Mothers' Health, Responsibilization and Choice in Family Care Work after Separation/Divorce

Abstract

Many Canadian social policies emphasize the obligation of individuals to care for their dependent family members, reflecting normative expectations that family members are responsible for providing support for one another. Such policies have particular implications for the economic, emotional and physical well-being of those who do family care work, primarily mothers. In this paper, we suggest that the concepts of familialism and responsibilization can help in understanding how post-separation/divorce care work is highly gendered. We describe the implications of familialistic policies, practices and assumptions for mothers’ health with a focus on the Canadian context. In doing so, we draw on secondary data concerning mothers’ primary care work of parenting during separation and divorce. Further, we suggest that the ways in which mothers exercise choice with regard to self-care and familial caring roles are both shaped by, and rooted in, the Canadian socio-political context of neo-liberal reforms. We conclude by providing recommendations for future research, and health and social service policy and practice.