Lone motherhood in England, 1945â1990 : economy, agency and identity
This thesis examines the history of lone motherhood in England between 1945 and 1990. Most studies of lone motherhood after 1945 have focused on unmarried women, but this study looks at all routes into lone motherhood: pre-marital pregnancy, separation, divorce and widowhood. Existing research on post-1945 history has tended to prioritise the role of the state in determining demographic trends in family life and behaviour. This thesis uses oral history evidence to demonstrate how womenâs agency shaped routes into lone motherhood as well as their management of female-headed household economies and their sense of identity within the post-war welfare state. A sample of fifty oral history interviews, primarily selected from the Millennium Memory Bank at the National Sound Archive forms the basis of the thesis. Interviewees are predominantly working-class and from urban locations across all regions of England. The sample is divided into five generational cohorts, which span the immediate post-war period, 1950s, 1960s 1970s and 1980s. Childhood, adolescent and marital experiences are analysed within each cohort in order to understand changes and continuities in womenâs entrance into lone motherhood. In addition,
Gallwey, April
DA Great Britain ; HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Lone motherhood in England, 1945â1990 : economy, agency and identity. This thesis examines the history of lone motherhood in England between 1945 and 1990. Most studies of lone motherhood after 1945 have focused on unmarried women, but this study looks at all routes into lone motherhood: pre-marital pregnancy, separation, divorce and widowhood. Existing research on post-1945 history has tended to prioritise the role of the state in determining demographic trends in family life and behaviour. This thesis uses oral history evidence to demonstrate how womenâs agency shaped routes into lone motherhood as well as their management of female-headed household economies and their sense of identity within the post-war welfare state. A sample of fifty oral history interviews, primarily selected from the Millennium Memory Bank at the National Sound Archive forms the basis of the thesis. Interviewees are predominantly working-class and from urban locations across all regions of England. The sample is divided into five generational cohorts, which span the immediate post-war period, 1950s, 1960s 1970s and 1980s. Childhood, adolescent and marital experiences are analysed within each cohort in order to understand changes and continuities in womenâs entrance into lone motherhood. In addition,
motherhood england economy agency identity examines history motherhood england study motherhood focus unmarried woman study_look rout motherhood pre marital pregnancy separation divorce widowhood existing post history_tend prioritise role_state determine demographic trend family_life behaviour oral_history evidence woman agency shape route motherhood well management female headed household economy sense_identity within post_war welfare_state sample fifty oral_history_interview primarily select millennium memory bank national sound archive form_basis thesis predominantly working_class urban location across_region england sample divide_five generational cohort span immediate_post war_period childhood adolescent marital experience analyse within cohort order change_continuity woman entrance motherhood addition