Contextualizing the Health of Low Income Single Mothers: Employability, Assistance, Gender and Citizenship

• Main Author: Hudson, Amy
• Other Authors: Penning, M.
• Language: English; en
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Neo-liberalism; Women's health; Social Policy; Gender; Class; Ethnicity; Citizenship
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1828/5274

In Canada, the growth and intensity of neo-liberal governance and philosophy, which includes idealizing a self-sufficient and independent citizenry continues to inform public policies at the federal and provincial levels. These policies, in turn, have implications for individuals’ health and well-being. Health implications are further visible and intensified along gender, class and ethnic lines. In this study, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with eight low income single mothers who had been affected by employment and assistance policies and regulations in British Columbia. The findings revealed the ways in which these women were affected by neo-liberal policy initiatives that held them individually accountable and responsible for managing their life circumstances in order to achieve the expectations bestowed upon them as citizens. It also revealed the inequalities that existed at the intersection of gender, class and ethnicity. The findings point to the need to address the policy barriers that confront lone mothers. === Graduate === 0630 === 0628 === [e-mail]