Young Mums Face an Unfair Stigma in a Society That Sets Them Up to Struggle
For generations, having children at a young age was the norm. Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers were often married and raising families by their early twenties. But in today’s society, young mothers are met with judgment rather than support, as though having children before a certain age is somehow a mistake rather than a personal choice.
The reality is that young mums are put in a harder position than most, not because of their age, but because of the circumstances they face. The housing and cost of living crisis in Victoria has made it near impossible for many families to get ahead, but younger mothers are particularly vulnerable. They often don’t have the same financial stability, career progression, or homeownership opportunities as those who have children later in life. Rather than being supported, they are told they should have “waited” or “planned better,” as if the system wasn’t already working against them.
A report highlighted that single mothers comprised the majority of the 360 women who sought family crisis accommodation last year. Additionally, research indicates that single parents often allocate more than 30% of their income to housing, compared to 14% for couple families. These statistics highlight the urgent need for targeted support, as young mothers are disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis, making it even harder for them to secure stable living conditions for themselves and their children.
The stigma surrounding young mothers also ignores a fundamental truth: age does not determine the quality of parenting. I have spoken to many women who had children later in life, and they often reflect on how they lacked the same energy for their younger kids as they did when they were in their twenties. Parenting comes with challenges at any stage of life, and young mothers should not be dismissed as less capable simply because they started their journey earlier.
Instead of judgment, we should be advocating for better resources and support systems for young mothers. Affordable childcare, better access to housing, and financial assistance shouldn’t be privileges reserved for those who fit a societal ideal of the “perfect” age to have children. If we truly want what’s best for children, we need to start by ensuring their mothers, regardless of their age, have the tools they need to succeed.
The conversation needs to shift. Young mums are not a burden, and they shouldn’t have to constantly prove their worth as parents. They are simply doing what mothers of all ages do: doing their best to raise their children in a world that too often refuses to make it easy.
