Social support networks and the (in)access to social rights in female single-parent families

Abstract

The study characterizes social support networks and the access to social rights of socially vulnerable female single-parent families. A sample of 29 women beneficiaries of a social service of central Portugal, consists mostly of divorced mothers, aged 18 to 61 years old, with low levels of education and predominantly unemployed. The results reveal family unprotected, who are not benefiting from recognized rights, experiencing material deprivation. The informal support networks are small and cohesive, focused on family relationships, with a strong reciprocity but moderate levels of emotional support and low material/instrumental and informative support, and does not represent a compensatory support of the vulnerability. Urge public policies that foster effective social protection of women and children in this family configuration and emancipatory intervention strategies beyond illiteracy on rights that promote citizenship.