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How Single Mothers Survive Welfare and Low Wage Work: A European Perspective

Shawn Reed

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Published in Making Ends Meet: How Single Mothers Survive Welfare And Low Wage Work (European Studies)

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Single mothers face a unique set of challenges in the labor market and welfare system. They are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed than married mothers, and they often earn less money than their male counterparts. This can make it difficult for them to provide for themselves and their children.

Making Ends Meet: How Single Mothers Survive Welfare and Low-Wage Work (European Studies)

by Kathryn Edin

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7504 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	337 pages

Welfare programs can provide a safety net for single mothers, but they often come with a number of restrictions and requirements. This can make it difficult for mothers to access the benefits they need, and it can also lead to poverty and social isolation.

This book explores the challenges and strategies employed by single mothers in Europe who rely on welfare and low-wage work to make ends meet. The book draws on in-depth interviews with single mothers in four European countries: the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and Italy. The interviews reveal the diverse experiences of single mothers, and they provide a rich understanding of the challenges they face and the strategies they use to cope.

Chapter 1: The Challenges of Single Motherhood

The first chapter of the book examines the challenges faced by single mothers in the labor market and welfare system. The chapter discusses the high rates of unemployment and underemployment among single mothers, as well as the low wages they often earn. The chapter also explores the challenges single mothers face in accessing welfare benefits, and it discusses the impact of poverty and social isolation on single mothers and their children.

Chapter 2: Strategies for Survival

The second chapter of the book explores the strategies employed by single mothers to survive welfare and low-wage work. The chapter discusses the different ways single mothers find and keep jobs, and it explores the strategies they use to make ends meet. The chapter also examines the role of social networks and community support in helping single mothers to cope.

Chapter 3: Policy Implications

The third chapter of the book discusses the policy implications of the findings presented in the first two chapters. The chapter argues that the challenges faced by single mothers are a result of gender inequality and the lack of affordable child care. The chapter calls for policies that address these issues, and it provides recommendations for how to improve the lives of single mothers and their children.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and strategies employed by single mothers in Europe who rely on welfare and low-wage work to make ends meet. The book draws on in-depth interviews with single mothers in four European countries, and it provides a rich understanding of the diverse experiences of single mothers. The book concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of the findings presented in the first two chapters, and it calls for policies that address the challenges faced by single mothers.

Making Ends Meet: How Single Mothers Survive Welfare and Low-Wage Work (European Studies)

by Kathryn Edin

4.4 out of 5