Single mothers are seen in different ways around the industrialized world: as mothers, workers or an uneasy combination of the two. This collection explores variations in state policy, labour markets and the status of single mothers.

Chapter 1 Introduction: A Contextual Approach to Single Mothers and Paid Work, SimonDuncan, RosalindEdwards; Chapter 2 Single Mothers in the Republic of Ireland: Mothers not Workers, EithneMcLaughlin, PaulaRodgers; Chapter 3 Single Mothers in Britain: Unsupported Workers or Mothers?, SimonDuncan, RosalindEdwards; Chapter 4 Single Mothers in the USA: Unsupported Workers and Mothers, Marthade Acosta; Chapter 5 Single Mothers in Japan: Unsupported Mothers Who Work, ItoPeng; Chapter 6 Single Mothers in Australia: Supporting Mothers to Seek Work, MarilynMcHugh, JaneMillar; Chapter 7 Single Mothers in Germany: Supported Mothers Who Work, MartinaKlett-Davies; Chapter 8 Single Mothers in France: Supported Mothers and Workers, NadineLefaucheur, ClaudeMartin; Chapter 9 Single Mothers in Sweden: Supported Workers Who Mother, UllaBjörnberg; Chapter 10 Afterword, SimonDuncan, RosalindEdwards;