Eisler, Shelley Diane2024-08-132024-08-1319971997https://hdl.handle.net/1828/17691Based on a comparative framework, this thesis presents a case study of Income Assistance receipt in British Columbia, Canada. Survey and administrative data from the Ministry of Social Services are analysed. The results of the analysis support the following hypotheses: (1) female lone parents experience a longer duration of receipt than do others; (2) employability potential is less related to duration of receipt among lone mothers; and, (3) different factors contribute to dependence on IA for women heading lone parent families. Findings are discussed with reference to what they indicate about the relative effectiveness of policy approaches in supporting lone mother households. Contrasting the policies of Canada and Sweden, I argue that the countries most effective in protecting lone mothers and their children from experiencing poverty are those with comprehensive policy systems that assist women to meet the often conflicting demands of paid employment and unpaid care giving.116 pagesAvailable to the World Wide WebThesis