African Single Mothers' Experiences of Work and Career in South Africa

The work and career experiences of African, single mothers from low socio-economic backgrounds have been ignored in previous research: the literature has largely focused on the family and work balance experiences of middle class women. The current study investigated the family and work balance experiences of a mixed group of emerging middle class and poor African women employed as semi/professionals or as labourers. A qualitative research design was employed. Nine participants, ranging in age from 26 to 52 years, were interviewed. Data were analysed by means of the voice-centred, relational method. Most participants held an instrumentalist view of work and career as an opportunity to earn a living to support themselves and their families. This finding was more prevalent amongst the single mothers employed as labourers. Participants also saw work and career as an opportunity to rise out of poverty and contribute to their society. The view that work was intrinsically satisfying was rare and circumscribed to only a few in the semi/professional group. The absence of a father figure in the participants' lives had economic and social consequences for their families; both groups struggled to balance work and family life. The findings call for educational and work programmes centred around an emancipatory, social justice orientation to enable single mothers to participate meaningfully in social life.