AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EXPERIENCE OF SINGLE MOTHERHOOD

An Investigation of the Experience of Single Motherhood

Abstract

This study highlights the concept of single motherhood in a holistic context and shows how single mothers are capable of solving many critical problems such as divorce and financial crisis with their abilities while managing their work and family requirements. In sum the study shows the problems that single mothers face and provides recommendations to these problems.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Overview of the Study1

Research Question2

Rationale2

Significance of the Study6

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW13

Introduction13

Changing Economic Context15

Long Run15

More Recent Trends17

Recession and Jobless Recovery.18

Changing Labor Force Composition.21

Changing Family Structures and Economic Status24

Poverty: Consequences for Single-Mother Families30

Social Policy Directions34

Existing Social Policies to Improve Incomes34

Minimum Wage39

Reducing Poverty44

Preceding Analysis48

Role of Poverty54

Individuals' situations84

Parenting87

Employment88

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY99

Introduciotn99

Introduction100

Research Method103

Methods103

Participants104

Literature Selection Criteria105

Search Technique105

Keywords Used105

Theoretical Framework105

CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION107

Findings and Interview Analysis107

Data Analysis107

Standards for Evaluation107

Results108

A Sense of Obligation108

Being There110

Doing What It Takes112

Negotiating the Obstacles112

The Child Care Dilemma113

Lack of Support From Others114

Discussion115

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION122

Implications of the Study125

Detailed Description of Living Arrangements134

Doubling-Up with a Single Female Relative135

Doubling Up with a Married Couple136

Cohabiting with Unrelated Males137

Link Between Living Arrangements and Economic Status140

Conclusions And Policy Implications144

Reference148

Chapter 1: Introduction

Overview of the Study

Research has shown that women and single mothers, especially those from minority racial and ethnic groups, have been hurt worst by the structural changes that have taken place in the U.S. economy. When plants close, women have longer durations of unemployment and lower wages upon re-entry into the labor force. Even though the service sector has emerged with both high and low-paying jobs, women continue to be employed mainly in the low paying jobs, which are often part-time and temporary in nature. As real wages have declined and incomes have become more unequal, low wages, discrimination, and a reliance on wage income have caused women's real wages to drop more than men's wages, and have caused women's poverty rates to increase at a rate much faster than men's.

The mean real income of families with children declined between 1973 and 1984. While this decline was experienced by both two-parent families and female-headed families, the latter fared worst. During this period, the real income of two-parent families with children declined 3.1% while the real income of female-headed families declined 7.8%. The real income of black female-headed families declined more, by 9.4%, and the decline experienced by Hispanic female-headed families, 13.3%, was even worse. The increases in real income between 1967 and 1973 experienced by all families with children were able to compensate for the decline in real income during 1973-1984 for two-parent families only. Between 1967 and 1984, the mean real income of two-parent families increased 14.1% while it declined 6.5% for female-headed families with children. Thus, femaleheaded families were better off in 1967 than they were in 1984 (Danziger & Gottschalk,1986).

Research Question

How is single motherhood linked with poverty, divorce and financial problems?

Rationale

The shift in importance from wage to property income has hurt women, especially single mothers whose economic well-being continues to rely on ...