Is Paid Employment for Single Mothers Worth It?

"At work, you think of the children you have left at home. At home, you think of the work you've left unfinished. Such a struggle is unleashed within yourself. Your heart is rent."

Feminists highlight that women represent one of the poorest groups in Canada, they are responsible for taking on the care-giving role in the family, and are leading over 80% of single parent families (Mullaly, 2007).   Feminists promote equality of opportunity and equal rights, but the representation of women in the workforce reveals that women continue to be at a disadvantage, particularly when looking at working single parent mothers

Today, more single parent mothers are discontinuing their reliance on social assistance and are entering into the world of paid employment.  In fact, over the previous ten years, the number of single mothers residing in Ontario relying on social assistance has decreased by 50% (Evans, 2009).  Without a critical lens, one might assume that this has led to a more promising outcome for single parent mothers.  Unfortunately, this is not the case.

While there is an increase in the employment rates of single parent mothers, the type of employment available to single parent mothers often creates distressing circumstances and does not significantly increase their economic status.  Women, in comparison to their male counterparts, are more often depending on temporary employment, part-time work, irregular hours, multiple jobs, and low wages to provide for themselves and their families (Evans, 2009).  Although the precarious employment attained means that woman are no longer stigmatized for relying on social assistance, they are increasing the risk of exhaustion and stress as well as consequential problematic behaviour of their children.

The stresses of parenthood increase when relying solely on one parent and one income to provide for the family.  The precarious employment obtained by many single parent mothers adds to this distress.  Not only are single parent mothers feeling the stress of making ends meet on minimum wages and irregular hours, they must ensure the well-being of their children (Evans, 2009).  This means finding affordable and accessible child care that is available during irregular working hours – not an easy task. Stress is amplified when having to rely on public transportation or other means to safely drop their children off with a child care provider and then arrive at work on time.   As a result of these and other burdens, single mothers feel great concern and guilt that they are unable to fully meet their children’s needs (Evans, 2009).

The difficulty of meeting financial and family obligations in low-income families often leads to distressing and sometimes chaotic home environments.  The high level of stress experienced by working, single parent mothers can lead to emotional frustration, anger, and depression (Steven Lee, Lee, & August, 2011).  Being occupied with employment and family responsibilities as well as limited finances and resources prevents parents from accessing or seeking beneficial social supports (Steven Lee, Lee, & August, 2011).  As a result of frustration and isolation, single-parent mothers do not have an outlet to release tension and do not prioritize the importance of self-care.  Consequentially, this harms the parent-child relationship as few positive interactions are exchanged and emotional reactions to misbehaviour often result in unnecessary and harmful physical punishment (Steven Lee, Lee, & August, 2011). These less than ideal parenting practises cause children to act out or withdraw leading to unfortunate behaviour problems in youth (Steven Lee, Lee & August, 2011).

Caution must be raised when celebrating the increase of single parent mothers entering into the workforce.  When considering the negative effects precarious employment has on single parent working mothers and their families, the value of this employment becomes questionable.  In order to reduce or eliminate the hardship placed on women in the workforce the implementation of policies to support working single parent mothers needs to be advocated.  Employment wages need to be increased to suffice an adequate standard of living that will assure mothers of financial stability and an enhanced quality of life for their families.  Universal childcare that ensures all mothers have access to affordable, accessible and quality childcare is essential to ease the transition into the workforce and ensure the safety and protection of children.  Another policy recommendation is to provide training for all parents focusing on appropriate parenting practises and the importance of self-care, as well as providing access to resource outlets and additional sources of supports.

The waves of feminism have reformed social institutions and have been instrumental in advocating for equality and creating social change.  Feminism has played important role in history, but the job is not done yet.  Women continue to endure marginalization and subordination in today’s society.  Continued advocacy to create policy change and prevent the marginalization of women is critical to truly create an equality of condition for women and their children.

Kim

References

Baby Center. (2011). Inspirational parenting quotes for single moms. Retrieved from http://community.babycenter.com/post/a21200797/inspirational_parenting_quotes_for_single_moms

Evans, P. (2009). Lone mothers, workfare and precarious employment: Time for a Canadian basic income?. International Social Security Review, 62(1).  Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy1.lib.umanitoba.ca/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=7897bb1d-1f75-4c7e-a7db-c510782f0575%40sessionmgr115&vid=2&hid=110

Mullaly, R. (2007).  Feminist, anti-racist, and postmodern critiques.  The new structural social work (3^rd Ed.). Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.

Steven Lee, C., Lee, J., & August, G. J. (2011). Financial stress, parental depressive symptoms, parenting practises, and children’s externalizing problem behaviours: Underlying processes.  Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 60(4). Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy1.lib.umanitoba.ca/doi/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2011.00656.x/pdf