Working it out: strategies to reconcile work and family among Swedish lone mothers

Abstract

Drawing on 39 interviews with Swedish lone mothers, this article aims to explore the central coping strategies used by the mothers in reconciling work and family. The article also studies how working conditions and access to economic and social capital influence the coping strategies used. The findings indicate a variety of coping strategies. These were clearly influenced by position in the labour market and access to social and economic capital. While for instance working-class mothers tried to changed jobs to cope with temporary employments, middle-class mothers used flexitime to cope with work–family conflict. Access to social capital was crucial for all mothers.