Vulnerabilität alleinerziehender Mütter in der Schweiz aus einer Lebensverlaufsperspektive

This paper contributes to the understanding of vulnerability related to lone paren-thood in Switzerland. Vulnerability is a dynamic process during which individualsexperience falls and lose resources, but might also rise and gain empowermentas an outcome of different coping and adaptation processes. The population oflone parents is increasingly heterogeneous in terms of social background andavailable resources to cope with the challenges posed by a new household arran-gement. This implies that the experience of lone parenthood varies substantiallyacross social groups. Such heterogeneity represents a new issue for the definitionand the measurement of the relative disadvantage of lone parents and theirfamilies. Switzerland is an interesting case study because of the weak work-familyreconciliation policies and the institutional configuration that discourage femalelabour market participation. We discuss how the transition to lone parenthoodmay translate in additional strains for those parents who have to face the increasein family and work responsibilities alone. We use data from different sources todescribe a range of life domains in which lone parents may become vulnerable.