Single Mothers in an International Context is a timely and controversial study which compares and contrasts the relationship between single mothers and paid work in different welfare states, chosen along a mother-worker continuum: Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan and Sweden and the USA. Highlighting the different experiences of single mothers, this unique collection by a distinguished team of international experts, explores various factors which have altered the expectations and experiences of mothers. Challenging the polarized debate in many Western countries that stereotypes single mothers as either a threat or passive victims, this work focuses on the interaction between dominant discourses on single motherhood, state policies, the structure of labour markets at both local and national levels, as well as neighbourhood support and constraints. This comprehensive work successfully examines the social contexts that present either opportunities or obstacles for single mothers and their uptake of paid work. It will prove essential reading for students in social policy, sociology, human geography, as well as those studying gender and women's studies.