Single mothering during the COVID-19 pandemic: a remote photovoice project among Filipino single mothers working from home

ABSTRACT

Family and work lives are continually transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Single parent families may be disproportionately affected by prolonged confinement and work-from-home (WFH) arrangements. This photovoice study explores how single mothering is shaped by WFH during the COVID-19 pandemic using an ecological perspective. Fifteen (15) single mothers participated in this remote photovoice project that was facilitated through digital and Internet-mediated methods. The mothers took photographs of daily home and work life highlights. These photographs were used to guide the one-on-one interviews conducted via videoconferencing. Findings demonstrate changes in the meanings, roles, and performance of single mothering during the COVID-19 era. Four themes emerged from the analysis: (1) increased presence at home; (2) shared motherhood during confinement; (3) work and work management as an act of mothering; and (4) single mothers as second teachers. Aside from WFH and pandemic-induced confinement, familial support, distance education, culture and passage can be potential ecological resources that can enrich single mothers’ mothering agency.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• mothering
• photovoice
• single mothers
• single parent families
• work from home

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the WFH single mothers who participated in this study. We would also like to extend our gratitude to Dr Dennis Erasga of the Department of Sociology and Behavioral Sciences of De La Salle University for his guidance during the revision process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary Rose Jean Andrada-Poa

Mary Rose Jean Andrada-Poa is a development practitioner, pursuing her PhD in Sociology degree, major in Organization and Social Systems Management at De La Salle University, Manila Philippines.

Ronaldo F. Jabal

Ronaldo F. Jabal is a public relations executive, pursuing his PhD in Sociology degree, major in Organization and Social Systems Management at De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines.

Jerome V. Cleofas

Jerome V. Cleofas, PhD, RN, is a registered nurse with a PhD in Sociology, major in Family, Health and Population Dynamics. He is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology and Behavioral Sciences, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines.