Esta tese investiga as representações de maternidade em mulheres situadas na configuração monoparental feminina da contemporaneidade, analisando as implicações dessas significações no exercício da maternidade. Aborda as relações entre os significados, as atribuições da maternidade e a cultura, destacando as variações nas significações do ser mãe, atreladas aos deslocamentos dos sentidos do ser mulher, no curso do processo civilizador. Investiga as representações da maternidade para compreender a subjetividade da mulher-mãe na cultura contemporânea e os modos dessa exercer a função educativa no contexto monoparental, entendendo a centralidade do Desejo da Mãe na subjetivação do filho, na transmissão da ordem simbólica e na construção da sua cidadania. A pesquisa foi realizada com cinco mulheres sem cônjuge, com filhos, através de entrevistas semiabertas, sendo esse recurso empregado desde o campo conceitual da Psicanálise. A metodologia adotada foi a da pesquisa psicanalítica, em que o método freudiano de investigação dirigiu a escuta e interpretação das falas dos sujeitos. Para analisar essas falas, foram destacados elementos fundamentais desse grupo cultural, emergentes nos discursos das mulheres: a mãe, o filho e o pai. A base conceitual da Psicanálise sustenta a interpretação dos discursos das mães sobre o tema da maternidade, onde o narcisismo, a feminilidade, o complexo de Édipo e o Desejo de Mãe foram os eixos teóricos interpretativos principais, tomados na análise da subjetividade feminina. Na leitura e compreensão dessa temática, também foi realizado um diálogo com outras disciplinas das Ciências Humanas. A tese indica que os significados da maternidade e os modos de ocupação do lugar parental materno dependem das vivências narcísicas, identificatórias, edípicas e da economia de gozo da mulher, em conjunção com as expectativas culturais sobre parentalidade, filiação e conjugalidade. Em relação a essas questões, o estudo aponta a presença de pontos de tensão nas experiências das mães situadas na dobradiça, isto é, na transição da modernidade para a pós-modernidade. Os relatos permitem dizer que a Função Paterna inscrita na mulher, o pai simbólico da mãe, é o que torna possível a limitação da onipotência materna na configuração monoparental, assim como afirmar ser o pai real um importante agente na regulação da economia libidinal nessas famílias. Este estudo questiona o suposto da emergência de um matriarcado no laço social contemporâneo e o declínio da Função Paterna, assinalando que as mudanças da posição da mulher na cultura não implicam a realização da fantasia da mulher toda. Por outro lado, aponta uma possível mudança na economia pulsional das mulheres, naquilo que concerne ao gozo Outro, na maternidade. / This thesis investigates the representations of motherhood in women situated in the contemporary female single parent family configuration, analyzing the implications of these significations in the practice of motherhood. It approaches the relations among significances, motherhood attributions and culture, highlighting the variations in the significations of being a mother, linked to the displacements of the meanings of being a woman, along the civilizing process. It investigates the representations of motherhood in order to understand the subjectivity of the woman-mother in the contemporary culture and the ways they perform the educative function in the single parent context, understanding the centrality of Mother’s Wish in the subjectivation of the child, in the transmission of the symbolic order and in the construction of their citizenship. The research was developed with five women, no spouse, with children, by the means of semi-open interviews, being this resource used from the perspective of the conceptual field of Psychoanalysis. The methodology adopted was the psychoanalytic research, in which the listening and interpretation of the subjects’ speech was guided by Freud’s method of investigation. In order to analyze these speeches, fundamental elements of this cultural group, emerging from the women’s discourses, were highlighted: the mother, the child and the father. The conceptual basis of Psychoanalysis gives support to the interpretation of the discourses of these mothers about motherhood, where narcissism, femininity, the Oedipus complex and the Mother’s Wish were the main interpretative theoretical axes, taken in the analysis of female subjectivity. In the reading and understanding of this issue, a dialogue with other subjects of the Human Sciences was also developed. The thesis indicates that the significations of motherhood and the modes of occupation of the mother’s parental place depend on narcissistic, identification and oedipal experiences of the woman’s jouissance economy, associated with cultural expectations in relation to parenthood, filiation and conjugability. In relation to these questions, the study points to the presence of tension points in the experiences of mothers situated on the hinge, that is, in the transition from Modernity to Post-Modernity. From the reports, it is possible to say that the Paternal Function inscribed in the woman, the mother’s symbolic father, is what makes the limitation of maternal omnipotence possible in the single parent configuration, as well as to assert that the real father is an important agent in the regulation of the libidinal economy in these families. This study questions the supposed emergence of a matriarchy in the contemporary social bond and the decreasing of Paternal Function, pointing out that the changes of woman’s position in the culture don’t imply the coming true of the whole-woman fantasy. On the other hand, it points to a possible change in women’s drive economy, concerning the Other-jouissance, in motherhood.

The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of family leisure involvement to the family functioning of single-parent families among a large national representative sample. Two samples were gathered. The single-parent sample consisted of 384 families (384 parents and 384 youth). The dual-parent sample consisted of 495 families (495 parents and 495 youth). Data were analyzed from the parent, youth, and family perspective using two instruments. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale (FACES II) was used to measure family functioning and the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to measure family leisure involvement. Blocked multiple regression analysis indicated a positive relationship between family leisure variables and family functioning variables among single-parent families. Family cohesion and family adaptability were affected by both core and balance activities, while family adaptability was affected slightly more by core activities than balance activities, from all three perspectives. Results also indicated that family functioning was very similar to dual-parent families while family leisure involvement among single-parent families was less. Implications for practitioners and recommendations for further research are discussed.

The thesis titled "Comparison of institutes of spare parental care from terms of the needs of the child and the caregivers" is focusing on the issue of spare parental care and caring of other person than a parent from the view of the needs of children and the caregivers. There are two strikingly similar institutions in the practice which have their own characteristics. The aim of my thesis is to describe, explain and specify differences these institutes and to show how it is accepted by caregivers. For specifics of long- term foster care and other individuals in this thesis is considered mainly a way of material security of the state, the method of cooperation with the non-profit sector, law institutes, experienced caregivers and the issue of cooperation with original family. In the empirical part was conducted quantitative research through a questionnaire that focused on the experiences and skills of the caregivers. The work also deals with quantitative research when caregivers share their views and experiences. The main finding is that the persons taking care of the foster care institute have greater knowledge about the new rights and obligations arising from the amendment Law of social and legal protection of children. Foster parents are more often missing general information about other forms of...

Sveriges Riksdag beslöt våren 2012 att även ensamstående kvinnor ska få tillgång till assisterad befruktning i Sverige. Hittills, och än så länge, har ensamstående kvinnor rest utomlands för att fertilitetsbehandlas. Syftet med denna studie har varit att undersöka hur solomammor (kvinnor som valt att skaffa barn som ensamstående) resonerat och resonerar kring sitt val, samt hur de ser på faderskapsprocessen och den kommande lagändringen. Deltagare söktes via en förenings Internetsajt, där medlemmarna alla är frivilligt ensamstående mammor. Fem solomammor berättade om sina resonemang i semistrukturerade intervjuer. Sedan kategoriserades, kodades och tematiserades materialet, och analyserades med hjälp av symbolisk interaktionism, värderingsförändringar och samhällsutveckling. Resultaten visar bland annat att respondenterna verkligen tänkt igenom sitt beslut att bilda familj som ensamstående förälder. De ser främst ser lagändringen som symboliskt viktig, då deras familjeform i och med denna erkänns av samhället. Respondenterna tror att donatorbrist och åldersgränser i Sverige kommer att medföra att ensamstående kvinnor även fortsättningsvis reser utomlands för assisterad befruktning. De negativa åsikter som kommit fram rör sjukvårdskontakter i Sverige och hur en del ensamstående mammor blivit bemötta av socialtjänsthandläggare. Faderskapsprocessen skulle kunna bli mer rättssäker om tydliga, nationella regler utfärdades även för faderskapsutredningar som rör donatorbarn. / The Swedish Riksdag decided in the spring of 2012 that single women also should have access to assisted reproduction in Sweden. Up until now, and so far, single women have travelled abroad for fertility treatment. The purpose of this study has been to explore how solo mothers (women who have chosen to obtain children as a single parent) reasoned and reason about this choice, and how they view the paternity process and the upcoming legislative changes. Participants were sought through an Internet site for an association where all members are single mothers by choice. Five solo mothers talked about their reasoning in semi-structured interviews. The material was then categorized, coded and thematized, and analyzed by using symbolic interactionism, changes in values and the development of society. The results show that the respondents really thought through their decision to found a family as a single parent. They see the legislative changes mainly as symbolically important, as their form of the family will be recognized by society. They believe that the lack of donors and the age limitations in Sweden will result in that single women continues to travel abroad for assisted reproduction technology. The negative opinions that have emerged during interviews are related to health care contacts in Sweden and how some single mothers have been treated by social service caseworkers. The paternity process could become more legally secure if clear, national regulations were issued also for the paternity process regarding donor children.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Premarital pregnancies resulting in unwed mothers is a problem within the church and in society. My hypothesis is that this plight of unwed mothers is not the sole responsibility of the girls but rather the result of lack of education of the church and the society. Therefore the main objectives of the research is to investigate. Firstly, to highlight the plight which unwed mothers receive from the Church and Society. Secondly, to conscientize the Church and the society as to the severity of the problem and its future implications. Thirdly, to challenge the Church not only to rethink its present stand as regards discipline, but to seek ways and means to alleviate the problem of teenage pregnancies. Fourthly, to sensitise all involved in the problem. An overview of literature and interviews was used to arrive at a broader appreciation of the root causes of being unwed mother. In depth interview with a small sample of unwed mothers were interviewed in order to document individual case studies. Church leaders, parents and other Youths were also interviewed. The research has found out that there are various factors that lead young women to bear children out of wedlock. Usually, those young Unwed mothers face severe consequences which impact negatively on themselves, their families, their children and the Church. To heal their painful experiences, unwed mother is last resort is to seek relief from the Church. The current Church practice is to put these unwed mothers under Church discipline. This research challenges the Church attitude and instead recommend several practical coping strategies to assist the unwed mothers and to alleviate the problem. These strategies include pastoral counselling and care, educational activities such as organisation of educational seminars and workshops and the publication of youth magazines in order to educate young people and society on his matter. / Thesis (M.Theol.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.

This thesis explores the relationships between self-esteem and socio-economic factors and characteristics of maternity group home program participation. Self-esteem is used sometimes as the independent variable and sometimes as the dependent variable in this study. A sample of 268 women was used representing the data available in an administrative database on women admitted to the Villa Rosa program for the period from May 1998 to February 2009, after removing cases with too much of the self-esteem measure missing. Methods of analysis included; paired samples t-tests, independent samples t-tests, analysis of variance, repeated measures analysis of variance, standard multiple regression, sequential multiple regression, and multinomial logistic regression. Attempts were made to control for the influence of the several factors. The main findings of the research included: 1) Ethnicity was not found to be significantly related to discharge self-esteem. 2) Self-esteem of residents was found to be significantly healthier at discharge from the program than at intake to the program. 3) Self-esteem was not found to be significantly different between women who participated in a post-natal semi-independent living component of the program and those who did not when controlling for control variables. When the control variable of length of time in the program was removed self-esteem was found to be significantly healthier for women who participated in the post-natal semi-independent living component of the program than those who did not. 4) A significant difference was not found between the discharge self-esteem of women who reported as living with a disability at intake, and women who did not. 5) Self-esteem at discharge was found to be healthier with an increased number of days spent at Villa Rosa. 6) Less healthy intake self-esteem was associated with plans not to breastfeed. 7) More supportive attitudes of social support network as measured at intake were shown to be linked to healthier self-esteem at discharge. 8) Experiences of abuse were not shown to be significantly related to discharge self-esteem. Both support received from the significant findings, and a lack of support from insignificant findings, were found for several self-esteem theories.

This study looks to the social trends, needs, and definition of home for the single-mother household. People need strong families to provide them with the identity, belonging, discipline, and values that are essential for full individual development ("The American Family Crisis" 16). This requires the examination of the role that the physical home environment plays in the life of the single-parent household. Personal histories, a literary search, and research of existing examples of built facilities serve to produce a series of patterns formalized in a design matrix, investigating how architecture can foster a healthy and supportive environment for the single-parent household.The intent of this research is to define a process by which the singleparent household, headed by a single mother, may be able to become self-sufficient and empowered by their housing situation. The aim is to create More than Housing (Joan Forrester Sprague), while utilizing the architecture to foster relationships and encourage growth.A resulting programmatic guide and design development tool for supportive housing, adapted to the needs of the single-parent household, creates a framework of design ideas derived from this research. This compilation is used to define design strategies and recommendations for the form and program of support systems used to illustrate the definition, application and resolution of "home" for the single-mother household. / Department of Architecture

This thesis explores the relationships between self-esteem and socio-economic factors and characteristics of maternity group home program participation. Self-esteem is used sometimes as the independent variable and sometimes as the dependent variable in this study. A sample of 268 women was used representing the data available in an administrative database on women admitted to the Villa Rosa program for the period from May 1998 to February 2009, after removing cases with too much of the self-esteem measure missing. Methods of analysis included; paired samples t-tests, independent samples t-tests, analysis of variance, repeated measures analysis of variance, standard multiple regression, sequential multiple regression, and multinomial logistic regression. Attempts were made to control for the influence of the several factors. The main findings of the research included: 1) Ethnicity was not found to be significantly related to discharge self-esteem. 2) Self-esteem of residents was found to be significantly healthier at discharge from the program than at intake to the program. 3) Self-esteem was not found to be significantly different between women who participated in a post-natal semi-independent living component of the program and those who did not when controlling for control variables. When the control variable of length of time in the program was removed self-esteem was found to be significantly healthier for women who participated in the post-natal semi-independent living component of the program than those who did not. 4) A significant difference was not found between the discharge self-esteem of women who reported as living with a disability at intake, and women who did not. 5) Self-esteem at discharge was found to be healthier with an increased number of days spent at Villa Rosa. 6) Less healthy intake self-esteem was associated with plans not to breastfeed. 7) More supportive attitudes of social support network as measured at intake were shown to be linked to healthier self-esteem at discharge. 8) Experiences of abuse were not shown to be significantly related to discharge self-esteem. Both support received from the significant findings, and a lack of support from insignificant findings, were found for several self-esteem theories.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1996. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-111). Also available on the World Wide Web.