A1 Journal article (refereed)
Feeling Poor and Lonely : The Felt Experiences of Low-Income Working Lone Mothers in Finland (2024)
Säilävaara, J., Ikonen, H.-M., & Jakonen, M. (2024). Feeling Poor and Lonely : The Felt Experiences of Low-Income Working Lone Mothers in Finland. Affilia, 39(3), 517-533. https://doi.org/10.1177/08861099231223495
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Säilävaara, Jenny; Ikonen, Hanna-Mari; Jakonen, Mikko
Journal or series: Affilia
ISSN: 0886-1099
eISSN: 1552-3020
Publication year: 2024
Publication date: 28/12/2023
Volume: 39
Issue number: 3
Pages range: 517-533
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Publication country: United States
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/08861099231223495
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/92706
Abstract
This article analyzes the current feelings of Finnish low-income working lone mothers and their views on what it means to be poor in the welfare state of Finland. This is done by analyzing written accounts of lone mothers through a qualitative content analysis. The data was collected in 2015 and 2021. The analysis reveals that mothers’ feelings of poverty have similarities to those described in data collected in a different context over 20 years ago. The article is inspired by an article published in Affilia in the year 2003 by Lynn McIntyre, Suzanne Officer, and Lynne M. Robinson. In their paper, McIntyre et al. analyzed the feelings of poor Canadian lone mothers. While the welfare regime and services influence how life is organized, it is evident that self-sacrifice for the children caused by poverty is very much a part of the written accounts of Finnish mothers. We show that while there are a few cultural differences in the feelings that lone mothers undergo on account of their low-income status, feelings such as loneliness are persistent and often shared regardless of time or geographical location. Therefore, we suggest that low-income mothers should be given greater support by society and governments to be able to feel hopeful and empowered rather than poor and alone.
Keywords: poverty; loneliness; experiences (knowledge); emotions; mothers; single parents; single-parent families
Free keywords: in-work poverty; lone mothers; feelings; Finland; Canada
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Working poor in post-industrial welfare state
- Jakonen, Mikko
- Finnish Cultural Foundation
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2023
JUFO rating: 1