Doing Family under Difficult Conditions

Abstract

In the Corona pandemic families were suffering a lot from restrictions. Schools and other institutional childcare were closed and many parents had to work from home. This was particularly challenging for single parents reconciling work and family life and we will focus on this group. In our qualitative longitudinal research project “Mothers and Fathers in the Corona Pandemic” we conducted three waves of interviews with 11–20 (partly single) fathers and mothers. Our leading question was “How did single parents manage the challenges of the pandemic?” Our analysis focuses on the role of ex-partners and further supporting networks. We see how the quality of these supporting structures can influence stress for single parents. We also analyse how stereotypes of fatherhood and motherhood influence the stress single parents faced and show that especially traditional concepts of motherhood could lead to a breakdown of their own health and emotional system.

Keywords

• COVID 19
• Family
• Fatherhood
• Motherhood
• Single Parents