Lone Mothers' Employment Trajectories: A Longitudinal Mixed-method Study

Struffolino, Emanuela and Bernardi, Laura and Larenza, Ornella (2020) Lone Mothers' Employment Trajectories: A Longitudinal Mixed-method Study. Comparative Population Studies, 45 (2020). pp. 265-298.

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Abstract

Using a mixed-method design, this study explores the heterogeneity in employment trajectories before and after the transition to lone parenthood in Switzerland. First, we perform sequence and cluster analysis on data from the Swiss Household panel to identify typical employment trajectories around the transition to lone parenthood, and then estimate their association with individual and household characteristics (N=462). Finally, we contrast these results with findings from a content analysis of narrative interviews with lone mothers residing in Switzerland (N=38), focusing on values and norms concerning work and care. We identify five employment patterns characterized by either an increase in labor supply (especially for those with more/older children) or by stability in or outside the labor market (for highly educated or younger mothers respectively). The analyses of the interviews provide insights on how employment opportunities and decisions differ by entry mode into lone parenthood, the post-separation relationship with the children’s father, and the ability to mobilize individual, social and institutional resources. The heterogeneity of employment trajectories calls for more attention to within-group differences rather than focusing exclusively on the divide between lone and coupled mothers. By identifying the multiplicity of factors shaping lone mothers’ decisions on their labor market participation, this work feeds into the literature suggesting that effective policies encouraging lone mothers’ labor-market participation should consider: (i) their normative priorities when facing work and care trade-offs, and (ii) the availability of informal and formal support.

Item Type:	Scientific journal article, Newspaper article or Magazine article
Subjects:	Social studies > Sociology Social studies > Sociology > Gender studies > Women's studies Social studies > Social policy
Department/unit:	Dipartimento economia aziendale, sanità e sociale > Centro competenze lavoro, welfare e società
Depositing User:	Ornella Larenza
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2021 09:16
Last Modified:	24 Aug 2023 14:00
URI:	http://repository.supsi.ch/id/eprint/12262

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