Mejor Sola Que Mal Acompañada: Strengths and Challenges of Mexican-Origin Mothers Parenting Alone

Abstract

Marriage is often viewed as central to family stability and health, and problem-saturated discourses about single parenting have failed to address the advantages of parenting alone. Heuristic methodology was used to examine the meanings and experiences of Latinas parenting alone. This study reflects the lived experiences of 20 Mexican-origin women who participated in a 1-to 2-hour, in-depth, semistructured interview. Data are presented by three exemplary portraits and five core consistencies embedded in a composite depiction. Overall, although parenting alone was challenging, it was considered beneficial and preferable, especially when the child's father's influence was problematic or detrimental to the family's well-being. Chicana feminism and an intersectionality lens is used to interpret findings. Implications for research and intervention are also discussed. KEYWORDS Chicana feminism, heuristic inquiry, Latinas, mothers"Mejor sola que mal acompañada" is a common dicho (saying) in Spanish. It means "better off alone than in bad company." This was a familiar saying my (J. Maria Bermúdez) mother would say when I had a friend or boyfriend she did not approve of. Her words resonated with me as I heard many of the women in this study describe their experiences of single motherhood Address correspondence to J.

Romantic Partner and Biological Father Support: Associations with Maternal Distress in Low‐Income Mexican‐Origin Families

“…Maternal distress is highly relevant to child and family well‐being, however, there has been very little research on maternal distress in families with a RPS father, particularly among Mexican‐origin families. With the rapid reorganization of family structure in the United States, more single mothers, including Mexican‐origin mothers, face unique challenges (Bermúdez, Stinson, Zak‐Hunter, & Abrams, ). Identifying the sources of support reducing maternal distress is a promising route to improving family well‐being.…”

Gender on the Run: Wanted Latinas in a Southern California Barrio

“…For example, Bermúdez, Stinson, Zak-Hunter, and Abrams (2011) apply an intersectional framework in exploring the lived experiences of 20 single mothers of Mexican origin. Although these single mothers of Mexican origin expressed a clear preference to parent without their children’s father, they were not a homogeneous group.…”

“I Am Not Going to Lose My Kids to the Streets”

“…For example, the term single mother is problematic, especially as one considers the vast differences in how this "group" is defined in studies (Perry-Jenkins & Claxton, 2009). Some women are partnered, not married and parenting alone, and others are not married or partnered but have family and other social supports (at varying degrees) to help rear their children (Bermúdez, Stinson, Zak-Hunter, & Abrams, 2011). It is important to disentangle marital status and family structure from parenting status.…”