Single-Parenthood and Illegitimacy in France

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The ratio of one-parent families is stable in France (9.3%), as is the sexratio (20/80), but the average age of single parents is falling and widowhood and separation are declining in favour of illegitimacy and divorce as causes of single-parenthood. The illegitimate birth rate is now around 8.5%.; Unmarried mothers present some profoundly different features according to the social groups they belong to : underprivileged class, West Indians, working class, traditionalistic or modern part of the middle classes.; Since 1965, some laws have been passed liberalizing the French legislation about family and sexuality and having some direct or indirect effects on illegitimacy and single-parenthood.; The first unmarried mothers' homes were opened at the end of the 19th century, as a result of anxiety about the under-population of France. The present policy is to combine antenatal and postnatal homes, in order to permit a long-lasting psychological and educational action. A subsistence level is now guaranteed for some time to single pregnant women or single parents.; Several associations were recently created to protect the interests of single parents.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: