Lone mothers’ experiences of poverty in Finland - a capability approach

Isola, Anna-Maria; Roivainen, Irene; Hiilamo, Heikki

doi:10.1080/2156857x.2020.1813192

Cited by 2 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Our findings point out, that strengthened capabilities enhance positive outcomes in the lives of marginalized groups. Similarly, Isola et al (2020) found that lone mothers in the margins of society utilized multiple capabilities within the space of capabilities, when aiming to successfully raise their children to become good citizens, and as such, managed to live a life in a socially valued way in the eyes of others.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To sum up, the satisfaction of human needs and positive experiences resulting from it may help a person convert resources into capabilities and further into functions (Isola et al, 2020). As narrative identity work relates to human needs and satisfaction, such as understanding one's life, taking part in it and larger social circumstances we see that it may also function as a conversion factor.…”

Section: Capability Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the analysis section we describe, how we examined both capability construction and narrative identity construction in order to find out how former RS adolescents' make meaning of their life. We investigated capability construction by identifying the needs for participation, understanding, belonging, and meaningfulness as conversion factors, in line with previous comparable studies (Isola et al, 2020(Isola et al, , 2021Leemann et al, 2021). Moreover, we explored the construction of narrative identity by using life-story constructs created by McAdams and McLean (2013).…”

Section: Capability Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When studying lone mothers in the margins of society, Isola et al (2020) discerned that previous studies have sparsely examined the role of conversion factors in capabilities and functioning, although they play a great role in capability construction. Thus, we consider human needs as conversion factors, as they are the natural drivers of functioning (Max-Neef, 1991).…”

Section: Capability Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In first stage of the analysis procedure, first author wrote plot summaries of each interview, in which life events were put in a coherent order based on the three stages: life before reform school, life during it, and life after it. In the second stage, first author coded the research material based on elements of capabilities (senses of coherence, meaningfulness, belonging, and an experienced parity of participation) (Isola et al, 2020).…”

Section: Analysis Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Constructing Narrative Identity and Capabilities of Finnish Reform School Adolescents

Niiranen

Isola

Känkänen

et al. 2022

Child Adolesc Soc Work J

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Most studies of adolescents placed in foster care due to severe conduct problems have focused on their problems, while adolescents with healthy adulthood condition remain understudied. In Finland, adolescents with severe conduct problems are placed in reform schools (RS). The purpose of this study was to examine how former RS adolescents’ narrative identity and capability construction interact in different phases of their life-stories. Semi-structured life-story interviews were conducted with 13 former RS adolescents with healthy adulthood condition. Data were analyzed using a narrative constructivist method. We found a story in which the theoretical elements found from the research material were especially rich and thick and decided to present it as a case example of our findings—Anna’s story. The analysis showed that capabilities were closely related to RS adolescents’ identity construction and well-being. Strengthened capabilities provided material for identity construction, such as identities of meaning making, agency, redemption, and communion. The findings of the study point out that out-of-home care adolescents’ stable and trusting relationships should be supported as they may strengthen capabilities and help develop feelings of meaningfulness, belonging, experienced parity of participation and senses of coherence.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Capability Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Capability Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Capability Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Analysis Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Constructing Narrative Identity and Capabilities of Finnish Reform School Adolescents

Niiranen

Isola

Känkänen

et al. 2022

Child Adolesc Soc Work J

Self Cite

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Feeling Poor and Lonely: The Felt Experiences of Low-Income Working Lone Mothers in Finland

Säilävaara,

Ikonen,

Jakonen

2023

Affilia

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This article analyzes the current feelings of Finnish low-income working lone mothers and their views on what it means to be poor in the welfare state of Finland. This is done by analyzing written accounts of lone mothers through a qualitative content analysis. The data was collected in 2015 and 2021. The analysis reveals that mothers’ feelings of poverty have similarities to those described in data collected in a different context over 20 years ago. The article is inspired by an article published in Affilia in the year 2003 by Lynn McIntyre, Suzanne Officer, and Lynne M. Robinson. In their paper, McIntyre et al. analyzed the feelings of poor Canadian lone mothers. While the welfare regime and services influence how life is organized, it is evident that self-sacrifice for the children caused by poverty is very much a part of the written accounts of Finnish mothers. We show that while there are a few cultural differences in the feelings that lone mothers undergo on account of their low-income status, feelings such as loneliness are persistent and often shared regardless of time or geographical location. Therefore, we suggest that low-income mothers should be given greater support by society and governments to be able to feel hopeful and empowered rather than poor and alone.

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Lone mothers’ experiences of poverty in Finland - a capability approach

Cited by 2 publications

References 34 publications

Constructing Narrative Identity and Capabilities of Finnish Reform School Adolescents

Constructing Narrative Identity and Capabilities of Finnish Reform School Adolescents

Feeling Poor and Lonely: The Felt Experiences of Low-Income Working Lone Mothers in Finland

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