Imamura, Hitomi (2025) How do the financial disadvantages experienced by single-mother households in Japan impact upon their children’s educational outcomes? Post-Doctoral thesis, University of West London.

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Abstract

Japan's social and economic structures are often perceived as having lower poverty rates compared to other nations, which has led to a lack of in-depth research on single-mother household poverty. Despite this perception, single-mother families face significant challenges, with limited research analysing the direct impact of maternal poverty on children’s education. After Japan’s 2020 education reform, children from wealthier families gained increased access to private education, further widening the gap between them and children from less financially stable households. This situation reflects Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital, where social advantages are passed from parents to children, perpetuating educational and economic inequalities. Rising divorce rates and the impoverishment of single-mothers and their children offer a bleak outlook for future generations.
The current research focused on child poverty in Japan, particularly examining how economic hardships impact the education and career paths of children from single-mother households. Through qualitative interviews with NPO representatives and single-mothers and their adult children, this research examined the root causes of poverty and its educational repercussions. Interviews were conducted with seven NPOs, eight single mothers and ten adult children. The interviews were transcribed from Japanese into English and analysed using thematic analysis to explore common themes. It aimed to explore the multifaceted effects of poverty on both mothers and their children, delving into the factors and processes that contribute to poor educational outcomes.
The current research aimed to identify what measures are needed to break this cycle and provide insights that can inform national policy to address these disparities. The findings of the research were firstly, as assumed, that single-mothers' economic disadvantage affected their children's learning performance, and secondly, although not assumed, the psychological strain on parents and children. For children in particular, the interviews revealed a number of stigmas and psychological impacts following parental divorce.
The results of this research highlight the need for further support for NPOs, single-mothers and all adult children. For this to happen, it was possible to see the need not only for national policies, but also for a change in the attitudes of the Japanese people as a whole.

Item Type:	Thesis (Post-Doctoral)
Identifier:	10.36828/thesis/14044
Subjects:	Social sciences
Depositing User:	Hitomi Imamura
Date Deposited:	04 Sep 2025 10:43
Last Modified:	08 Sep 2025 14:15
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/14044

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