1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« This chapter aims to shed light on variations in the labour force participation rates of single mothers and to explore how social policies may influence their involvement in paid work. » (p. 210)

Questions/Hypothèses :
« This chapter addresses […] diverse questions, commencing with a description of the variations in economic activity of single mothers in Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta. Next, the emphasis will be placed on an exploratory analysis, again comparative, of certain pertinent elements of social policy in these three provinces. […] In establishing a particular point in time, in this case 1996, [this chapter also explores] the relations between variations in provincial social policies and the work patterns of single mothers. » (p. 211)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
Données du recensement de 1996

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

« Changes in family structure over the past three decades have brought about an increase in the number and the relative importance of single-parent families and have profoundly modified the sociodemographic profile of mothers living alone with their children. The increase in divorce, the diminishing numbers of legalized marriages, and the rise of cohabitation have contributed to the emergence of numerous family units in which one of the two parents, most often the mother, takes on the responsibility of raising children, with or without the support of the other partner, who does not share the same residence. » (p. 210)
« The text [of this chapter] is divided into three sections : a brief outline of what we know of the factors associated with the economic activity of single mothers; a staistical description of their varying rates of activity in the three Canadian provinces examined [Ontario, Quebec, Alberta]; and, finally, an analysis of the elements of single-mothers’ income from which the impact of certain aspects of social policies may be discerned. » (p. 211)
« This examination of single mothers’ characteristics and their economic activity in three Canadian provinces highlights some profound differences that are only partially explained by the variations in the mothers’ characteristics. An analysis of several aspects of social polic[i]es (sic) in place at the beginning of the 1990s casts some light on the way in which these three environments approach the issue of single parenthood.
Whatever the province, many single mothers face the following dilemma : whether to stay at home and survive on meagre social assistance benefits or integrate into the workforce, knowing that it may take a few years to earn a salary greater than their social assistance benefits. Integration into the labour force is however, greatly influenced by measures that can facilitate the reconciliation of work and family life for single mothers. […] This analysis, while exploratory, suggests the existence of links between social programs and economic participation. » (pp. 232-233).