ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the links between lone parenthood, class and rurality through the examination of detailed case studies collected during field research in two rural settings in England. It examines the diverse lived experiences of lone parents in rural England. The chapter introduces the notions of relational assets and human capital to assert that lone parents' relationships with paid work cannot simply be mapped on to traditional class based conceptions of mothering and attitudes to paid work. Indeed, policy organizations in the United Kingdom and elsewhere have begun to recognize the problems faced by rural lone parents; particularly with regard to securing and retaining paid employment. Relational assets include the resources, both material and emotional, that lone parents can draw upon from their immediate social environment. The human capital acquired by lone parents also plays an important role in mediating their ability to combine paid employment with caring for their families.
