What is «lone parenthood»? A critical review of its conceptualization in the context of social policy

Abstract

The use of the concept of «lone parenthood» has intensified during the last years, owing, amongst other things, to the increase in this form of family. In spite of increasingly widespread use, the theoretical reality is characterized by a lack of a global consensus in relation to one essential aspect: What family form should this sociological category comprise? This problem of theoretical imprecision has often affected academia, causing strong discrepancies between different studies. However, it is also starting to have social and legal repercussions, because in terms of social policy each government agency has developed its own definition of the term. As a result, the multiple forms of lone parenthood are treated differently, something which has been described by associations and social movements as unfair and discriminatory. In this theory-based paper, we analyse some of the official definitions that have been produced in recent years and that are contained in the national and regional regulations created for the social protection of such families. The objective is to identify the conceptualization of this family phenomenon in the Spanish legal system, the existence of theoretical imprecisions and the similarities and differences that exist between territorial areas and legal statuses. This analysis helps us to clarify the official meaning attributed to these families in Spain and to provide clarity regarding this imprecise concept.