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Motherhood in Context—Life Course Interviews with Young Mothers in Contact with Child Welfare

Author

Listed:
  • Anne Juberg

    (Department of Social Work, Norwegian University of Technology and Science, 7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Turid Midjo

    (Department of Social Work, Norwegian University of Technology and Science, 7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Halvor Fauske

    (Department of Social Work, Norwegian University of Technology and Science, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
    Department of Social Work, Inland University of Applied Sciences, 2418 Elverum, Norway)

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this article is to explore how a sample of young mothers in contact with child welfare services in Norway narrate their transition to motherhood and their relation with child welfare services. Methods: The article is based on life-course interviews with the mothers, on which we have conducted a content analysis inspired by narrative theory. Results: Results show that whereas the mothers deviated from common expectations of predictability and orderliness before they became mothers, they strived to provide a “good enough” situation for their children in line with expectations in larger society ever after. Nevertheless, the complex disadvantages that the mothers said they had in several life domains concerning social networks and family support, education, working life, housing, and that were apparently already in their transition to adulthood, were likely to increase even after the mothers had decided to enter the mothering role in socially acceptable ways. Conclusions: The article concludes that child welfare services may contribute positively by acknowledging the complexity of young mothers’ living context when assessing mothering practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne Juberg & Turid Midjo & Halvor Fauske, 2020. "Motherhood in Context—Life Course Interviews with Young Mothers in Contact with Child Welfare," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:9:y:2020:i:12:p:236-:d:465391
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Angelini, V. & Mierau, J. O., 2015. "Late-Life Health Effects of Teenage Motherhood," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 15/09, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.
    2. Wells, Kathleen, 2011. "A narrative analysis of one mother's story of child custody loss and regain," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 439-447, March.
    3. Brännström, Lars & Vinnerljung, Bo & Hjern, Anders, 2015. "Risk factors for teenage childbirths among child welfare clients: Findings from Sweden," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 44-51.
    4. Halvor Fauske & Bente Heggem Kojan & Anita Skårstad Storhaug, 2018. "Social Class and Child Welfare: Intertwining Issues of Redistribution and Recognition," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-13, August.
    5. Berzin, Stephanie Cosner, 2010. "Vulnerability in the transition to adulthood: Defining risk based on youth profiles," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 487-495, April.
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