Lone Motherhood: Characteristics, Circumstances, and Consequences

Abstract

Abstract In the first part of this chapter we examine a range of demographic, social, and economic characteristics of lone mother families, assessing the extent to which the lone mother families differ from one another and from married couple families. We also compare lone mothers of the 1990s with those of the 1980s and 1970s to see whether there have been any changes in the lone mother population over the last two decades. Additionally, we examine the economic circumstances and sources of incomes of women who were lone mothers in the 1990s. This provides a background to the subsequent policy chapters that deal with employment, housing, and social security. In the second part of the chapter we address two issues, namely: who become lone mothers and what are the consequences of family breakdown for children.