NAVIGATING CHALLENGES: WORKING SINGLE MOTHERS’ WORK-FAMILY CONSTELLATION

Written by Harshitaa Sharma 

BACKGROUND

Growing up as the daughter of a single mother is a journey marked by unique challenges and profound lessons for me. This article sheds light on the experiences and perspectives of being a daughter raised by a working single mother, offering insights into the challenges that a single mother face and possible solutions.

Working single mothers face a myriad of challenges that stem from the dual responsibilities of managing a career and raising children without the support of a partner. These challenges can be complex and multifaceted, impacting various aspects of their lives. The UN Women report puts the figure of lone mother household in India to 13 million . An estimated 4.5% of all Indian households are run by single mothers. This is exactly why it is essential to shed light on unique challenges faced by single mothers. These resilient women, balancing the roles of provider, nurturer, and professional, encounter hurdles that necessitate collective advocacy and support.

CHALLENGES

-Time Management: Juggling the demands of a full-time job and the responsibilities of parenting gets overwhelming. Single mothers often find themselves stretched thin, trying to balance work commitments, school activities, doctor appointments, and household chores. 

-Financial Strain: Single mothers are the sole breadwinners for their families. This places significant financial pressure on them as they strive to provide for their children's needs, including education, healthcare, and extracurricular activities. Balancing a budget and planning for the future can be challenging, especially if there is limited financial support.

-Limited Support System: Without a partner to share parenting responsibilities, single mothers lack the immediate support available to dual-parent families. The absence of a co-parent makes it challenging to navigate childcare duties, seek emotional support, or share the responsibilities of household chores and decision-making.

-Workplace Challenges: Single mothers face specific challenges in the workplace, including a lack of understanding or flexibility from employers. Balancing the demands of work and family can sometimes lead to career limitations or missed opportunities for advancement. Stereotypes and biases about commitment and productivity may also persist, hindering career progression.

-Emotional Strain: The emotional toll of being a single parent, especially when faced with the complexities of work is significant. Single mothers may experience feelings of guilt, stress, and fatigue as they strive to fulfill their roles both at home and in the workplace. 

-Limited Time for Self-Care: Amidst the numerous responsibilities, single mothers often find it challenging to allocate time for self-care. Prioritizing personal well-being is crucial for mental and physical health, but the demands of work and parenting can sometimes leave little room for essential self-care practices.

-Childcare Challenges: Finding reliable and affordable childcare can be a major challenge for single mothers who work outside the home. The logistics of managing school schedules, after-school activities, and holidays can be complex, and the cost of quality childcare services can pose a financial burden.

-Social Stigma and Judgment: Single mothers face societal judgments and stereotypes that question their ability to provide a stable and nurturing environment for their children. 

-Limited Career Advancement Opportunities: Balancing work and family responsibilities may results in single mothers being perceived as less available for overtime, travel, or other career-advancing opportunities. This can potentially limit their career progression.

WAY FORWARD

There are a lot of government schemes designed to empower single mothers:

Integrated Child Development Services that address health and nutrition needs or children till the age of six years.

Scholarship opportunities for children raised by single mothers

Reservation for single mothers in various Government exams

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana for financial assistance to pregnant and lactating mothers

The compulsion to have father’s name on child’s passport has been revoked.

Home loan benefits.

Addressing the unique challenges faced by single women in the workplace requires a multi-faceted approach. Companies need to foster inclusive cultures that value diversity and provide support mechanisms for all employees, regardless of their marital status. By recognizing and actively working to eliminate biases, promoting work-life balance, and ensuring equal opportunities, organizations can create environments where single women can thrive professionally. Supporting single mothers toward economic self-efficiency and lifting the burden of poverty is one of the best ways to ensure the well-being of children and their successful transition to adulthood. Education and job training for these women is critical, as is parenting skills training.

REFERENCES

Aruna, “Need to understand the rights of a single mother by choice”, Legal Bay, 14 September 2021

Zeb Hasan, “Father does not own daughter; every child has right to use mother’s surname: Delhi High Court”, Bar and Bench, 6 August 2021

Ministry of Women and child development https://wcd.nic.in/

Problems Faced by Single Mothers Nidhi Kotwal and Bharti Prabhakar

Key Challenges Contributing to the Survival of Single Mothers Noor Watee Rahman1 , Haslinda Abdullah1 , Norazlina Darus2 , Amiraa Ali Mansor1

How to stimulate single mothers on welfare to find a job: evidence from a policy experiment - springerlink