ABSTRACT
In contemporary sociology of gender there is an abundant amount of research which details the ‘deficit’ identities of singles along with the effects and experiences of stigma linked to unpartnered statuses (i.e. single, divorced, separated, etc.). In addition, the array of research about single parenthood focuses primarily on lower socioeconomic status, poor parenting and attitudes towards sexual deviance. Though these areas of research are significant, there still remain pivotal aspects of the compounded identity of parent, woman, mother and partner which are largely unspoken; particularly the arenas in which identity is developed, formulated, constrained and/or perpetuated. As conformity perpetuates particular identities among mothers, issues of stigma play a vital role in the performance of the social construction of motherhood as well (e.g. good/bad mothering). To specifically identity the weight of relationship status in relation to mothers an unfolding of the layers of socioeconomic status, parental status and the role of them as women are necessary. Therefore, it is vital to examine the theoretical gap of evidence which addresses social identity in relation to parental relationship status and correlations to stigma among middle-class mothers within the ‘good’/‘bad’ mothering spectrum.
