Hello amac,
The only fault I can see in the WT is that they are very close knit socially and single mothers will have more people they "trust" then if they are on their own. -amac
"Close knit socially" and a "closed society" are two different things, whether speaking of a family, a congregation, or a country. They may overlap, as there are close knit social clicks in the WT.....but the WT itself is a closed society - and one can't leave openly without punishment.
It's not that single mothers "trust" more people. It's that parents (and disproportionately high percentage of single mothers) are TAUGHT to trust the brothers & sisters more....."new mother, father, brother, sisters". We were told that would make up for the fleshly family we lost when we entered into the WT. Remember? We were told that we were in a Spiritual Paradise right here on the earth.
I've been in at least 6 cong. in 32 yrs. There's always those mothers who don't go out in service, but the brothers are nice enough to come get their boys to go with them. Whether it's one or more brothers. It's quite common. And it could be quite innocent too. How does one tell? There are also the mothers in the group who really appreciate someone helping them with their too many kids, particularily a seemingly (or real) nice, spiritual brother/sister.
Single sisters with kids are some of the lonliest, put-upon, always trying, always failing, people around. No matter what they do, it's never good enough - and they're second class, period. They lack adult interaction, and their kids lack interaction all the way around. Damn straight they'd jump at the chance to have someone show an interest in their kids.
Now add in that even if a man is found guilty of child abuse by elders.......the parent & child must NEVER speak about it to anyone.....less they be brought up on charges of slander...I, personally, have found this NOT to be true. - amac
I, personally, a mother of a sexually abused child by a brother, have found this TO BE true. I was a single mother with 3 kids at the time also. After I'd gone through the local elders, CO, letter to Society, which bounced back to another CO....the CO visited me. That early 90's WT in hand (one with Job's wife telling him to curse God) - which dealt with child abuse and memory. He made it clear to me if I didn't stop speaking about it - because nothing could be done - I would be guilty of slander.
Btw, I know this happens in families with two parents also......but many jw single mothers with kids are just needy in so many ways. I knew many of them over the years. They are a great group of women, always trying.
waiting
ps - thanks, Eman & Odrade - I just never thought of this in context of the setting before.