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 editorsSäilävaara, Jenny; Ikonen, Hanna-Mari; Jakonen, Mikko

Journal or seriesAffilia

ISSN0886-1099

eISSN1552-3020

Publication year2024

Publication date28/12/2023

Volume39

Issue number3

Pages range517-533

PublisherSAGE Publications

Publication countryUnited States

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1177/08861099231223495

Publication open accessOpenly available

Publication channel open accessPartially 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.


Keywordspovertylonelinessexperiences (knowledge)emotionsmotherssingle parentssingle-parent families

Free keywordsin-work poverty; lone mothers; feelings; Finland; Canada


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Related projects


Ministry reportingYes

VIRTA submission year2023

JUFO rating1


Last updated on 2025-03-02 at 08:53