Women, Motherhood, When Going It All Alone: Single Mothers in Southeast Asia

This research investigates the lived experiences, stigma, and support systems affecting single mothers in Thailand, Laos, and Singapore. In many Southeast Asian societies, single motherhood is associated with deep social stigma, institutional neglect, and gender inequality. Despite growing numbers of female-headed households, regional studies are lacking in their comparative depth and intersectional approach. This project aims to fill that gap through ethnographic research that captures both the diversity and the commonalities in single mothers' experiences across three countries with differing socio-cultural and policy landscapes. The study will offer concrete policy recommendations to advance gender equality and improve support structures for single mothers.