Of mules and pearls: the lived experiences of black single mothers

Abstract

Black women are one of the most silenced groups in our society and are often judged for their behaviors in comparison to White women. This judgment is most prevalent regarding motherhood, specifically single motherhood. Most research on Black single mothers focuses on the quantity of Black single mother headed households in the Black community as opposed to the true quality of life that Black single mothers provide for their children. This study, which includes interactive interviews and autoethnography, focuses on the ways that Black women self-define as single mothers and reimagine their family dynamics in the wake of White pseudo-traditional family standards.