Israeli Solo Mothers: Renovation by Conformity

Abstract

Families of single mothers by choice are the fastest growing "new family" type in Israel today. Solo mothers, or single mothers by choice as they are called, bring their children into the world without a partner from the start, even before conception. The number of Israeli solo mothers has doubled over the past decade. They are mostly Jewish and from various socioeconomic levels. Despite their growing numbers and visibility in Israel, they have attracted little academic attention. The article is based on thirty-six semi-structured interviews and a follow-up in social media. As a solo mother myself, and a sociologist, I analyze some of the findings and my own experiences. I shall explore in this article the sociological aspects of solo motherhood as a conformist challenge to Israeli gender ideology. Solo mothers comply with almost everything Israeli society expects of women, but on their own terms. They use existing repertoires and adjust them to their needs. Solo motherhood enables single women to conform to the Israeli norms of femininity: procreation and motherhood. In the process, they develop shared practices and language and a family narrative that provides another model of family, as they are often required to explain their status simply because most systems are organized around two parent families. Thus, they may find themselves accounting for their choices, primarily to themselves, but also to their environment. In the process, they revise gendered conventions.