Lone Mothers

Attitudes toward Lone Mothers

The extent of negative stigma associated with lone motherhood varies significantly internationally, but has reduced over time due to increased frequently. Differing societal attitudes, public policy, and religion all have an effect. Since 2000, there has been focus on the increasing rates of young, never-married mothers. Debates associated with lone motherhood include to what extent they should be supported by the state, ex-partners, and society and there is significant attention internationally on low rates of employment experienced by lone mothers as well as how increases in these rates can be encouraged and supported. In some countries, depending on political and religious ideology, lone parents are seen as a social problem and too dependent on the state. In these regions, states tend to [Page 669]reduce social service benefits to lone mothers to potentially reduce their occurrence.

Lone mothers must be responsible for their own lives as well as their child's. Programs and organizations exist to assist single mothers, such as the Single Mothers Conference in Salt Lake City, which hosts conferences on everything from childcare to car repair.

Increased Risks

Child poverty is also consistently higher in lone-parent families than those with two parents. Lone mothers tend to be a disadvantaged population, with research in several countries indicating that they experience lower levels of physical and mental health compared with partnered parents.

Lone Mothers and Emphasis on Work

An important international debate is to what extent countries should encourage lone mothers to work, while also taking into account their caring obligations. Selected percentages of lone mothers employed in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries (2000) include Australia (43 percent), Austria (58 percent), Belgium (68 percent), Denmark (69 percent), France (82 percent), Germany (40 percent), Ireland (23 percent), Italy (69 percent), Japan (87 percent), Netherlands (40 percent), New Zealand (27 percent), Norway (61 percent), Portugal (50 percent), Spain (68 percent), Sweden (70 percent), United Kingdom (41 percent), and the United States (66 percent).

The U.S. Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 attempted to move lone mothers, even those with young children, from welfare to work. Evidence suggested that welfare caseloads fell dramatically and the employment rates of lone mothers increased substantially. Similar plans are now in the process of being implemented by the United Kingdom. In Norway, the high welfare dependency and poverty rate among lone mothers prompted a work-fare reform of the Norwegian welfare system for lone parents. The reform led to increased earnings and educational attainment, reduced poverty, and lowered welfare caseloads, thus easing the government's financial burden and also reduced poverty.

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