Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Notes on contributors
- Introduction: Advancing the dialogue on turning points
- one Unpacking biographical narratives: investigating stories of artistic careers in Northern Jutland, Denmark
- two Turning points in the life course: a narrative concept in professional bifurcations
- three Conjugal separation and immigration in the life course of immigrant single mothers in Québec
- four Migration biography and ethnic identity: on the discontinuity of biographical experience and how turning points affect the ethnicisation of biography
- five Biographical structuring through a critical life event: parental loss during childhood
- six Decisive turning points in life trajectories of violence among young men in the barrios of Caracas: the initiation and biographical reconversion to non-violent lifestyles
- seven The turning points of the single life course in Budapest, Hungary
- eight Complicating actions and complicated lives: raising questions about narrative theory through an exploration of lesbian lives
- nine Religious conversion as a biographical turn/ing: the case of Orthodox believers in contemporary Russia
- ten Conclusion: theorising turning points and decoding narratives
- Index
three - Conjugal separation and immigration in the life course of immigrant single mothers in Québec
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 September 2022
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Notes on contributors
- Introduction: Advancing the dialogue on turning points
- one Unpacking biographical narratives: investigating stories of artistic careers in Northern Jutland, Denmark
- two Turning points in the life course: a narrative concept in professional bifurcations
- three Conjugal separation and immigration in the life course of immigrant single mothers in Québec
- four Migration biography and ethnic identity: on the discontinuity of biographical experience and how turning points affect the ethnicisation of biography
- five Biographical structuring through a critical life event: parental loss during childhood
- six Decisive turning points in life trajectories of violence among young men in the barrios of Caracas: the initiation and biographical reconversion to non-violent lifestyles
- seven The turning points of the single life course in Budapest, Hungary
- eight Complicating actions and complicated lives: raising questions about narrative theory through an exploration of lesbian lives
- nine Religious conversion as a biographical turn/ing: the case of Orthodox believers in contemporary Russia
- ten Conclusion: theorising turning points and decoding narratives
- Index
Summary
Single parenthood over the past few decades has been a focus of family scholar research that has shown its characteristics as a family form, its risks and opportunities, as well as its coping mechanisms. Within this body of research, the situation of immigrant single parents is less documented, although specific conditions particularise this experience, as it will be demonstrated in this chapter. We intend to discuss whether or not immigration can initiate a turning point in the lives of parents experiencing a conjugal separation after settling in the receiving society. Examples are drawn from a research based on biographic interviews with immigrant single mothers of different ethnic origins established in Québec City. First, we briefly present the current situation in this field. Second, the theoretical approach is introduced, discussing the definition of turning points as well as the main life course principles that underlie our research. Third, several details about our study's context and methodology are presented. Finally, we analyse those family trajectories and dynamics where a conjugal separation occurs, and then conclude with a discussion about the significance of single parenthood and the impact of immigration and conjugal separation on individuals’ lives.
Experiencing a conjugal separation in an immigration context
Since the 1970s, in all Western societies, the number and proportion of single parents among households with children has constantly increased. In the province of Québec, in 2006 single parents represented 29 per cent of all families and 23.0 per cent of children lived in a single-parent household (MFA, 2011). This phenomenon also presents two other important characteristics: its feminisation (80 per cent of single parents are women) and relative rejuvenation – single parents are younger than other categories of parents (Cloutier et al, 2004).
Entry into single parenthood can entail positive consequences, such as the improvement of family climate and stability where the parent or child has experienced domestic conflict or abuse (Amato, 2000; Parent et al, in press). However, as many studies point out, single parenthood also brings about many risks and difficulties of a social, economic and psychological nature (Dandurand and Ouellette, 1992; Lefaucheur, 1993; Lefaucheur and Martin, 1993; Le Gall and Martin, 1996; Duncan and Edwards, 1997; Martin, 1997; Cloutier et al, 2004).
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- Information
- Biography and Turning Points in Europe and America , pp. 65 - 92Publisher: Bristol University PressPrint publication year: 2012