Image from Glasgow Caledonian University Archives
The Scottish Council for Single Parents, in July 1976 published Single Mothers: the First Years about unmarried mothers and their young children. When the Council was established in 1945 the mortality rate for illegitimate births was far higher than that for legitimate births. During the ensuing three decades, the number of children received into care of welfare organisations, because they were illegitimate and the mother was unable to provide, was frighteningly high. In 1968 Glasgow Corporation’s Children’s Department quoted the figure of 42% of their children in care as being illegitimate. The implications in this statistic were a major consideration in the Council’s decision to initiate this research project.
In attempting to find some explanation of these appalling facts and to discover how the situation could be altered, the author of this publication took a very thorough look at a group of young mothers, not necessarily known to social workers, who had undertaken to bring up their children single-handed. Miss Hopkinson, who had had experience in social work and research, maintained an honest and friendly relationship with the mothers throughout this study. The findings include information on family background, putative fathers, finance, day-care, housing, employment, social life, and use of health and social services.
"they leave no doubt that, unless our society is prepared to meet the problem of single parenthood with more understanding and flexible services, young mothers and their children will continue to suffer poverty and deprivation."
[source: back cover of book]
This book can be consulted in Glasgow Caledonian University Library at 362.839209411H60