L’hébergement de femmes accompagnees d’enfants en chrs : quelle incidence sur l’identite parentale ?

Abstract

The housing of women with children in chrs : what are the consequences on the parental identity ? The growing number of women living in poor conditions makes the family housing in chrs (centres d'hébergement et de réinsertion sociale) a current issue in those establishments. This article focuses an aspect of a study that tackles the parental identity of women living there, seen from their point of view. 24 semi-guided interviews were conducted with mothers of minor children, single or in couple. The aim is to draw the consequences on their parental identity of social help and living conditions during the stay. The analysis shows that the access to parenthood and its practice in a context of adversity, combined with a dependency on professionals, affect globally self-representations. In response to the institutional constraints, women try to protect the familial intimacy and place education in a private register. This echoes the questioning of social-educative teams on the relevance to intervene about parenthood, in such a frame as the insertion mission allotted to those establishments.

Keywords

• mother/child
• social housing
• parental identity
• parenthood
• integration