Abstract

Lone mother households are at a high risk of financial hardship in Japan. One of the reasons why lone mothers and their children are at risk of poverty is that the social security system that was established on the premise of male breadwinner households in the 1980s still exists. This system does not respond effectively to the new social risks caused by changes in demography and the labour market. Lone mothers face serious difficulties reconciling balancing work and care, resulting in job poverty, truncation of childcare time and strengthening mutual assistance through family reunification.