Sociological Research of Single Parenthood: Experiences of Divorced Mothers

Abstract

In recent decades, various social changes have led to significant transformation of family structures. The number of divorces is increasing, consequently leading to a rise in the number of single-parent families. Compared to two-parent families, modern society imposes different and more diverse challenges to single-parent households. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to examine the experiences of divorced mothers, as well as the daily obligations they navigate. The paper presents the results of a sociological study conducted in 2021 using a semi-structured interview method on a sample of ten divorced women. The data obtained show that, although participants frequently cited their spouse’s infidelity as the primary reason for divorce, the post-divorce period was perceived as challenging and stressful for most of them. To help their children, many engaged in open conversations, since some participants noticed changes in their children's behavior. Although this was a challenging period in their lives, they still managed to balance childcare with work commitments. Half of the participants expressed no intention to remarry and did not believe that the divorce had affected their social life and status. However, the remaining participants still perceived divorce as a factor that assigned them a 'certain status' in society, which certainly indicates the still-present marginalization of divorced women in contemporary society.