Changing policy and society
Solo mother
/ˈsəʊ.ləʊ ˈmʌð.ɚ/
Solo mothers are parents who bear disproportionate responsibility for meeting their family's needs. Needs that are economically valued and needs that aren't, like caring for children. Insufficient support from extended family, community and government compounds this inequity. The overwhelming burden compromises the wellbeing of solo mothers and their children, now and in the future and ultimately weakens the social and economic fabric of society.
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![A woman with short curly black hair, wearing a yellow blazer, light blue top, and jeans, holding a rose gold iPad and smiling at the camera.]()
Solo mothers and our families are disadvantaged by interlocking pressures, social norms and policy blind spots.
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![A woman walking with a young child along a paved path in a park or recreational area. The woman has a red backpack, and the child is holding her hand. In the background, there are other people, trees, grass, and a bridge over water.]()
We are expected to fit into boxes that do not reflect our reality. Our needs are fragmented across services, and our challenges are dismissed as personal failings rather than the result of systemic design.
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![Two smiling women standing outdoors in a park, holding colorful leaves, surrounded by trees with green and autumn-colored leaves, and fallen leaves on the ground.]()
The move to destigmatize solo motherhood by treating it as a risk factor rather than an identity has had the unintended effect of making us invisible.
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![A woman jogging outdoors with dumbbells in her hands.]()
Insufficient resources, and crucially time, stand in the way of us organizing to provide mutual support and represent our own interests.
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![Woman with dark hair wearing glasses and a traditional embroidered top, sitting with her hand on her forehead, smiling with eyes closed]()
The experience of solo motherhood cannot be reduced to a single domain or factor. It intersects with other challenges such as isolation and toxic stress, economic inequality, intimate partner violence, child welfare involvement and workplace discrimination.
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![A young boy and a woman face each other closely, smiling, with the boy touching the woman's face. They are outdoors with autumn leaves and trees in the background.]()
For many of us, challenges of solo motherhood are compounded by racism, genocide, ableism, intergenerational trauma and migration specific risks. These compounding risk factors are siloed, ignored, or stigmatized when instead they should be addressed holistically.
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![Two women standing side by side, smiling, against a white background.]()
In overlooking us, society misses out on the valuable and unique contributions our families could make.
Through sharing our stories we will identify concerns, dialogue with experts, carry out our own research and recommend reform. Here is a preliminary list of our concerns. We’ll be adding resources and research as we compile them. If there’s something important we are missing, please let us know and we’ll include it.
Work
Taxation and income support
Divorce, separation and Family Law
Child protective services
Disability and chronic illnesses
Norms, culture and stereotypes
Community supports
Immigration
Education and child care
Wellbeing of children with solo mothers
Have a lived experience related to any of these issues? Is there another concern you think we missed? Send us a voice memo today and share your story and views.
Be an Accomplice
The concerns of solo mothers intersect powerfully with the goals of other movements. If your organization or movement wants to collaborate on a podcast episode, research project or policy process, get in touch.