Single Mothers' Survival Strategies of University Students During COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the social and economic sectors. Family, the smallest social unit, is experiencing the impact, particularly for the woman as single-parent. Being a single parent is either a choice, decision, or condition that must be accepted due to the spouse’s passing or other condition. Single parents carried numerous burdens alone, including earning a living and raising the children. These burdens have a significant impact on single parents. This study aims to reveal single-parent families’ survival mechanisms. The research applied a qualitative method by interviewing single mothers from university students in East Java Province, Indonesia. This study used the theory of survival mechanism proposed by James Scott. The study found that instabilities generated by the COVID-19 pandemic produced enormous diminishing income. Such ordeals faced by single parents are burdensome because they initially had to support the family amid the feeble economy. Income vulnerability becomes a deep concern for single mothers. Pandemic COVID-19 caused these mothers to empower themselves and develop various survival strategies. The mothers from middle-class families live frugally and selective when they buy something they need. While mothers from lower-class families did different survival mechanisms, range from careful spending, owe some money, and open a business using their ex-husband’s savings. Furthermore, they are also working overtime, empowering their children to help with the work, diversifying jobs by opening food stalls up to have an online shop. Therefore, it can be assumed that the COVID-19 pandemic has made single parents struggle even more to fulfil their family needs.

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SURVIVAL STRATEGY FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES AS HEAD OF FAMILY

Jurnal Perempuan dan Anak ◽

10.22219/jpa.v2i2.9664 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 35

Author(s):

Juli Astutik

Keyword(s):

People With Disabilities ◽

Survival Strategies ◽

Survival Strategy ◽

Human Beings ◽

Family Needs ◽

Equal Rights ◽

Research Subjects ◽

Women With Disabilities ◽

Persons With Disabilities ◽

Survival Mechanisms

People with disabilities have physical limitations and mental disorders. According to Law No. 8 of 2016 concerning persons with disabilities, people with disabilities are those who experience physical, intellectual, mental and sensory limitations for a long time in interacting with the environments who may experience obstacles and difficulties in participating fully and effectively with other citizens based on equal rights. In relates to that, women with disabilities still experience some social discrimination such as social exclusion, marginalization, stereotypes and violence which may results poverty, unemployment, and life deprivation experienced by women with disabilities as heads of households. With the discrimination they experienced, women with disabilities as human beings always tries to carry out survival strategies to meet their life and family needs. Economic problems experienced by women with disabilities makes them have to carry out a survival strategy. As an analytical tool in this study, researchers used the Subsistence Ethics Theory by Scott (1989). In the Ethical Theory of Subsistence, there are three ways of survival mechanisms, among others are to tighten spending, to have a side job, and to get help from networks outside the family. Using descriptive qualitative research, data was collected through observation, interview and documentation techniques. The data was then analyzed through the process of data reduction, data presentation and verification. The data validation uses source triangulation techniques, technical triangulation and time triangulation. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that most of the research subjects used survival mechanisms by tightening expenditures in order to increase daily expenses. In addition, they have side jobs as farm laborers, odd jobs, and also tailors; as well as utilize the local government aid to meet their daily needs.

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Mekanisme Survival Selama Pandemi Covid-19: Belajar Dari Pengalaman Perempuan Single Mother di Perdesaaan Madura

10.21776/ub.bjss.2021.001.01.6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (01) ◽

pp. 80-92

Author(s):

Deviana Mayasari ◽

Hoiril Sabariman

Keyword(s):

Single Mothers ◽

Single Mother ◽

Double Burden ◽

Restriction Policy ◽

Phenomenological Studies ◽

Children's Schooling ◽

The Impact ◽

Difficult Situations ◽

Survival Mechanisms ◽

Taking Care

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic adds to the burden for single mothers. In addition to performing two functions at once, the pandemic forces them to survive difficult situations. This article describes the challenges facing single-mother as well as survival mechanisms during pandemics by phenomenological studies through direct observation and in-depth interviews conducted on single mothers in Ponteh Village. Data showed some of the challenges single-mother faced during the pandemic. First, there is an increase in double burden. One of the additional tasks for a single mother is the increasing burden of taking care of households needs due to their children’s schooling from home. Second, the decrease in income for household needs resulted from the government's mobility restriction policy. Third, the stereotyping of women (widows) that leads to social pressures. Survival mechanisms carried out by single mother during the pandemic are as follows. First, fostering optimism and taking care of each other. Second, using social relationships. Third, downsizing through reduced consumption and food substitutes, and fourth, diversifying and intensifying their jobs. This article therefore adds to the understanding that single mother women are no longer considered women who are unable to take care of their families when in fact they are able to overcome helplessness and difficult challenges.

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Generational Impact of Single-Parent Scholarships

Journal of Family Issues ◽

10.1177/0192513x15576963 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 38 (5) ◽

pp. 607-632 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eun Koh ◽

Kim Stauss ◽

Carmen Coustaut ◽

Caitlin Forrest

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Higher Education ◽

Educational Attainment ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Single Parents ◽

Single Parent ◽

College Degree ◽

Thick Description ◽

The Impact

The study explored the experiences of 35 children of former Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund awardees through qualitative interviews. Particularly, the study sought to understand their experiences in single-parent households, before, during, and after their parents pursued a college degree as well as how they perceived the impact of the scholarships, especially in relation to their own educational attainment. From the qualitative interviews, three main areas were identified: the hardships of single-parent households, the challenges and possibilities of single parents’ higher education, and the generational impact of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund. For each area, themes and subthemes were identified along with their thick description. The findings of the study emphasize the significance of single parents’ educational and economic accomplishment in children’s education and quality of life even though they also note the challenges within single-parent households, especially during the parents’ college years. The implications of the findings are discussed.

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Double Disadvantage in a Nordic Welfare State: A Demographic Analysis of the Single Parent Employment Gap in Finland, 1987–2018

10.31235/osf.io/c935e ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Juho Härkönen ◽

Marika Jalovaara ◽

Eevi Lappalainen ◽

Anneli Miettinen

Keyword(s):

Labour Market ◽

Single Mothers ◽

Single Parents ◽

Single Parent ◽

Single Fathers ◽

Single Parenthood ◽

Educational Backgrounds ◽

Employment Gap ◽

Employment Rates ◽

Educational Gradient

This study demonstrates how an evolving negative educational gradient of single parenthood can interact with changing labour market conditions to shape labour market inequalities between partnered and single parents. We analysed trends in employment rates among Finnish partnered and single mothers and fathers from 1987 to 2018. In the late 1980s’ Finland, single mothers’ employment was internationally high and on par with that of partnered mothers, and single fathers’ employment rate was just below that of partnered fathers. The gaps between single and partnered parents emerged and increased during the 1990s recession, and after the 2008 economic crisis, it widened further. In 2018, the employment rates of single parents were 11–12 percentage points lower than those of partnered parents. We ask how much of this single parent employment gap could be explained by compositional factors, and the widening educational gradient of single parenthood in particular. We use Chevan and Sutherland’s decomposition technique on register data, which allows us to decompose the single parent employment gap into the composition and rate effects by each category of the background variables. The findings point to an increasing double disadvantage of single parents: the gradually evolving disadvantage in educational backgrounds together with large differences in employment rates between single and partnered parents with low education explain the widening employment gap. Socio-demographic changes in interaction with changes in the labour market can produce inequalities by family structure in a Nordic society known for its extensive support for combining childcare and employment for all parents.

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and policy response on single-parent families in Malaysia

Fulbright Review of Economics and Policy ◽

10.1108/frep-09-2021-0055 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Nur Hairani Abd Rahman

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Single Parents ◽

Single Parent ◽

Financial Security ◽

Content Type ◽

Single Parent Families ◽

Policy Measures ◽

The Government ◽

The Impact ◽

Malaysian Government

PurposeThe study focuses on the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and policy measures implemented by the Malaysian government to address issues during this period. The study examines the impacts on the financial security and mental health of single-parent families in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a cross-sectional survey to obtain data about single-parent families. To support the information collected with the survey, interviews were conducted with six representatives from six single-parent associations.FindingsThe study identified that policy measures implemented by the Malaysian government have helped improve the financial security of single-parent families. However, for mental health, the support single parents received was not able to provide better quality of life, as the majority were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during lockdown, before they received any assistance from the government.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted during the pandemic; thus, the study was not able to include a larger sample of single parents. Therefore, the findings cannot be generalized to explain nationwide issues. However, the study provides important insights into understanding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on people, especially single-parent families.Practical implicationsThe study confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected single parents in different ways. Financial security and mental health, the focus of this study, have provided a clear justification for how pandemics could affect people’s lives. Specifically, the situation was exacerbated after the implementation of movement control orders in Malaysia, and it has continuously affected the living conditions of single-parent families.Social implicationsThe study focuses on single-parent families, a group that receives less attention from the government and policies, although this group is recognized as one of the vulnerable groups. Understanding this context helps to provide a clear guide for how policies can be formulated and provides equal attention to assist this group in the future.Originality/valueThis study focuses on single-parent families. Few studies have examined this perspective using Malaysia as the study context. Moreover, the study analyzes the pandemic situation, and this area is still new and underexplored.

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DAMPAK POLA ASUH SINGLE PARENT TERHADAP TINGKAH LAKU BERAGAMA REMAJA DI KABUPATEN PADANG LAWAS UTARA

Jurnal Kajian Gender dan Anak ◽

10.24952/gender.v3i1.2256 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 33-53

Author(s):

Desi Ratna Sari

Keyword(s):

Parenting Style ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Single Parents ◽

Single Parent ◽

Religious Behavior ◽

Single Parent Families ◽

Permissive Parenting ◽

Good For ◽

The Impact

Single parent families have an obligation to guide their children, in carrying out their role alone in guiding children to face many obstacles. This paper starts from the results of research that aims to describe the parenting style of single parents towards adolescent religious behavior and the impact of parenting on adolescent religious behavior. The results showed that parenting of single parent parents using democratic parenting and permissive parenting had a positive impact on the behavior of the diversity of children as evidenced by diligently practicing worship, diligently reading the Qur'an and doing good for parents

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Perceraian Karena Pernikahan atas Kehamilan Diluar Nikah (Studi pada Kasus dengan Pola Asuh Permisif)

Jurnal Konseling dan Pendidikan ◽

10.29210/19900 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 25

Author(s):

Happy Karlina Marjo

Keyword(s):

Single Parents ◽

Single Parent ◽

Role Overload ◽

Permissive Parenting ◽

Qualitative Descriptive ◽

The Difference ◽

End Use ◽

Short Time ◽

The Impact

The research was conducted to reveal the various facts about the permissive parenting parents against the impact of a single female parent’s teenager the end. Use case study in qualitative approach. On two of the respondents which of its characteristics are single parents teenager pregnant outside wedlock end then married in a short time and eventually divorced. Data were collected through interviews; observation and documentation study. Analyzed data qualitative descriptive usage through case studies and served in the form of narratives with earlier in Triangulation. Research results shows that the problem is becoming a single parent woman have an impact on the lives of young women as single parents. Respondents subjected to stress, standard of living is low a negative view of society and childcare; aspect role overload, poverty, loneliness and isolation, and felt to be a burden not affect the respondents. A family of permissive parenting causes the marriage is seen as a mere status only, so that after their child's birth status was not considered important, and they choose to become single parents. Further research showed the presence of moral deterioration and the difference in the impact of being a single parent on this research is influenced strongly by self resiliensi respondents. Counseling service to help explore the issues and deal with cases of teenagers as a single parent is indispensable.

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