The situation of lone mother households and effectiveness of social security system in Japan and the UK

这项研究旨在探讨低收入和社会保障福利不足对单亲母亲家庭的影响。本研究共分三个部分。对单亲母亲与老年父母代际关系的分析结果表明，有子女照料需求的单亲母亲倾向于与父母同住，但照顾支持是代际间的双向支持。第二，对就业历史与收入关系的研究表明，生育后离职降低了获得标准就业的可能性，增加了低收入的可能性。第三，我研究了贫困和耻辱是如何在英国和日本的经验。围绕着非传统家庭单位的耻辱，如单亲，似乎加剧了日本人通常对贫困的羞耻感。另一方面，买不起消费主义商品的耻辱感没有英国那么明显。

The study aims to examine the impacts of low income and inadequacy of social security benefits on lone mother households. The study consists of three parts. Results from the analysis of intergenerational relationship between lone mothers and their elderly parents, lone mothers with child care needs tend to co-reside with their parents, but caring supports are two-way supports between generations. Secondly, the research exploring the relations between employment history and income suggests job separation after childbearing reduces the likelihood of getting the standard employment and increases possibility of lower income. Thirdly, I examine how poverty and stigma are experience in the UK and Japan. The stigma that surrounds non-traditional family units, such as lone parents, appears to intensify the feelings of shame ordinarily experienced in relation to poverty in Japan. On the other hand, the stigma attached to being unable to afford consumerist items is less pronounced than the UK.