Young single motherhood: contested notions of motherhood and sexuality in policy discourses/program interventions

Challenging the notion young single motherhood in policy

By: Mulongo E M N
Published by: Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Netherlands , 2006
Via: Eldis

Policy and interventions for young single motherhood (YSM) are based on its construction as a pathology, or a social problem. The author argues that this view of YSM tends to ignore structural inequalities that affect young women and mothers. As a consequence, policies relying on this view are bound not to be transformative. The report emphasises the need to question the conceptualisation of YSM itself. It suggests an alternative approach; viewing young single mothers as social actors who can organize and form alliances to seek redress to injustices they face in society.
(http://adlib.iss.nl/adlib/uploads/wp/wp423.pdf)