Currently, lone mothers and their children make up almost 20 per cent of families with dependent children in the UK, a threefold increase since 1970. Yet, while they are often cited by politicians as both a symptom and cause of social breakdown, relatively little is known of the causes, consequences and conditions of lone motherhood in Britain and throughout Europe.
Good Enough Mothering? provides accounts of historical patterns of mothering and ideologies of the family with cross-national comparisons of policies and experience of lone motherhood in developed and developing countries. Countries include: Britain, US, Norway, South Africa, Kenya, Thailand, India, Brazil and the Caribbean. This engaging edited collection will appeal to students of social policy, women's studies and social work.

About the Author
Elizabeth Bortolaia Silva is Research Fellow and runs the Gender Analysis and Policy Unit in the School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds.

Reviews

'This volume's contributors tackle questions important in both academic and political debates: can single mothers be good mothers? Why the increase in single motherhood across many countries? How does social policy affect single-mother families?' - Journal of Social Policy

'Thoughtful, insightful and theoretically sophisticated perspectives on a subject which is often the target of blanket pathologising attack ... reader-friendly and engaging...accessibly written.' - Capital and Class

'A sobering piece of political sociology that focuses on Britain but could productively be read by social analysts in every region of the world.' - Population and Development Review

'A wide-ranging and stimulating discussion...well written and offers critical analyses of key issues including the Child Support Act, the outcomes of lone motherhood for children and the underclass debate.' - Health Visitor

'Exemplifies the diversity of feminist thought around lone mothering.' - Feminism & Psychology

Book Information
ISBN 9780415128902
Author Elizabeth Bortolaia Silva
Format Paperback
Page Count 252
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 317g