Discussion on the Nature of Policy Change for the Single Parent Support Australia and their Children (Single Parent Support Australia)

Rille Walshe, National Convenor

I have been involved with sole parent issues and policy debate for over 20 years now, and have seen how the issues have moved to mirror societal change.

For example the issues during the early formation of Single Parent Support Australia were

• Adoption of ex-nuptual children

• Lack of financial and social support for single mothers

• The rights of ex-nuptual children in comparison with offspring of married couples

In a thirty year period the social infrastructure of Australia has changed significantly. For example equal pay for equal work in relation to women has moved from being a radical idea to acceptance as being fair and just.   Consequently this has led to change in the social structure and women now have greater financial independence.   Divorce is more common and accepted.  De facto relationships are more the norm. Women now have greater financial resources at their disposal and are able to support their children if they choose to leave unsatisfactory or abusive relationships or have an unplanned pregnancy.

While the socio-political landscape has changed  the ongoing  debate has been around women, work and mothering.  An idealised post World War 2 perspective was that women would work until they married after which they would cease work and have children.  The structures of the past supported these ideals.   Women often had to leave their jobs when they married to be supported financially by their husbands.

The reality however may have been different for many who still had to raise children and work � they were outside the stereotypical ideal of the middle class mum. Women�s paid work was both hidden and discounted.

Today the debate is about the expectation that women will work, particularly if they are poor, whilst middle class married women appear to be supported to stay at home with their children. Increasingly the pressure is on low income women to work regardless of the social cost to their families.  One thing that has not changed greatly in the past thirty years is the criticism of women for either working or not working  when they have children � often described as �damned if you do and damned if you don�t (work)�.

However, sole mothers are frequently portrayed (by media, governments, disgruntled ex-partners) as either good, bad or mad women.  They are easy targets to be labelled as fallen, inadequate, failed, inferior. Or just different and therefore a threat to the �social norms�. In fact, sole mothers (single and ex-married) work hard to raise their children to the best of their abilities despite poverty being a major factor in their lives.

Single Parent Support Australia�s challenge has been to respond to and influence changing social, political and economic circumstances.  We attempt to demystify and normalise  the stereotypical image of the single mother as well as advising how policy will affect single mothers and their children.

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