Paramos šeimai politika Lietuvoje ir vienų motinų šeimos ; Single-mother families in the context of family policy

Abstract

Single mother families is one of the most common and the poorest family type in Lithuania. The literature analysis shows that single mother families' poverty is mostly determined by socio-political conditions. Therefore, the research of the dissertation intended to reveal the reasons that determine the problematics of single mother families in Lithuania and to capture what challenges these families face and what support resources they have. The research has shown that in Lithuanian, in the context of family policy, single mother families are stigmatised and discriminated, they do not receive necessary support and all the system is unappropriated to their needs. Family policies are mostly determined by the dominant conservative, patriarchal, familialistic and religious values. Therefore, the family policy is mainly interested in supporting nuclear and large families and all policy tools are implemented accordingly. In the context of such policy, single mothers and their children face many financial, childcare, education, healthcare, logistic and legislative challenges. While trying to survive in an unfavourable political environment, mothers have to sacrifice many of their own and their children's needs, they experience consumption deprivation and cannot devote as much time to their children as they would like to. Meanwhile, children have to spend a lot of their time alone and to learn to take care of themselves at an early age. The most important source of support to these families is their informal network, which provides them with financial and childcare support. Meanwhile, children's fathers are involved into their lives both socially and financially, as much as they feel close to their children.