Pauvres, immorales et contraintes : Les adversités des mères célibataires en Suisse

Abstract

This interdisciplinary book explores and analyses the adversities of single mothers during the twentieth century since nowadays in Switzerland. Thus, women who have given birth to a child out of wedlock are included in several legal, medical and social categories and representations that have varied over time. Nevertheless, single mothers are most often denigrated, while fathers can more easily recuse themselves of their responsibilities. Does a mother, or even a woman, “of good moral character” exist only if she is married? The book offers studies on various constraints faced by single women in Switzerland. The chapters deal with a male-built state, as well as a civil law that considered them illegitimate until 1978. On the other hand, public authorities tend to place children and confine mothers according to the circumstances. A more understanding shift is taking place in the wake of sexual liberation, and the category of single mothers gradually includes unmarried mothers, divorced women and widows who are grouping together in order to create a more positive public image of lone-parent families. However, the authors show the persistence of the child costs and the precariousness of these mothers because of the lack of an active family policy. This book reveals several facets upon gender differences applied to a specific category of women.