지역사회거주 양육 미혼모의 삶의 경험에 관한 연구

A Study on Life Experiences of Unmarried Mothers’ Child-Rearing Living in Community

Based on the qualitative case study method, this research explored the life experiences of unmarried mothers who were pregnant, giving birth, and nurturing in the local community without the residential experience of the supporting facility. As a result of analyzing data collected from 5 unmarried mothers who lived in the local community through in-depth interviews, they are receiving official and informal help from the community and they are bringing up their children having the mother’s responsibility although the unmarried mothers lived in the local community had experienced lonely and unborn childbirth. In fact, they share information through online cafes, sometimes they go out to the streets and give voice to realize the right of unmarried mothers and grow as the main stream of community welfare. Details are followings. Firstly, the support of family-of-origin, housing and other their basis were important backgrounds for starting with the home care life. Secondly, although the life to be handled alone was too heavy to sustain, the study participants were responsible for their decisions ,and were trying to protect each other and maintain their own ‘home’. Thirdly, there were many complaints from the research participants about public sector’s support that failed to meet their living needs. Finally, the survey participants lived in communities reside forming relationships with various local resources such as online cafes for single mothers. In additions, based on these findings, practical and policy suggestions were made.