Abstract
Parenthood is a phase that brings major changes in the lives of men and women. While these changes should naturally be experienced by both parents, there is a growing population of single parents who are mothers. Young women are filtering into the university sphere and in the process are also becoming single student-mothers. Experiences and challenges of single student-mothers while they enter the university as mothers or become mothers while enrolled in a particular qualification remains obscure. Single student-mothers studying towards their qualification face certain challenges while doing so. Therefore, assistance, guidance and support are expected to be provided by the family and the university as this can influence completion of their qualification and challenges will be experienced differently if there is support. There is inadequate literature that places emphasis on the experiences of student-mothers in South Africa therefore, the rationale of this study was to explore the experiences of single student-mothers within the context of South Africa and their experience of motherhood. International literature displays that single student-mothers are a population that exists within higher education institutions who at times require support, assistance and to be seen and incorporated in university policies. Obtaining a qualification can provide a means of financial stability and independence for many student-mothers. The surge of father absence is mainly due to the disappointment of fathers in becoming primary caregivers to their children. The study seeks to understand the experiences and challenges that undergraduate single student-mothers tackle. Data for this qualitative study was collected utilising in-depth interviews in understanding the above-mentioned group. A total of eight black single student-mothers amid the ages of 20 and 33 participated in this study. All participants were unmarried when data collection took place. Key findings for this study revealed that participants’ main source of support was from family; mainly the parents of the student-mother. Receiving maintenance was a challenge for most single student-mothers as biological fathers only played the role of ‘Instagram dad’ and were labelled as a ‘deadbeat dad’ as they do not actively play a role in their children’s lives. The South African social grant is an aid used mostly by women in order to support their children. Those participants who receive the social grant use it for various things other than the basic needs of providing food and education for the recipients of the grant.
M.A. (Sociology)