Merged or omitted? What we know (or don’t) about separated mothers who pay or should pay child support in Australia

Abstract

A rapidly changing landscape in the care arrangements of children means that new conceptual lenses are required to understand the many ways in which children are – or are not – supported following parental separation. While research into non-resident fathers has intensified in recent years, studies of non-resident mothers remain in the margins. This article brings to the fore discussions about non-resident mothers and money. It collates the small amount of research in Australia on non-resident mothers and women who pay child support, refers to relevant international studies, and suggests what further research is required. My hope is that this article will stimulate thought and act as a catalyst for more focused work on the potentially complex interactions between gender and post-separation parenting.