Reaction of 45 families of questioned single mothers out of 60, when they heard about woman’s pregnancy, was negative. Many of them told, that they were victims of physical and psychological violence from family members, because of which, they left families.
“I was already 6 months pregnant, when I found out, that I was pregnant. When my father heard about this, he announced that I was no more his daughter and forced me to leave the family. I slept in street, and then, they took me back in the house, but two weeks later, they turned me out of house and I started living in shelter…” (28 years old single mother, which lives with her friend now).
“My mother told me, that I could go back home only in the case of abortion, but I did not want to do this, I wanted to give birth. (26 years old single mother, which lived in a shelter)
“They told me that I did not need a child and I had to do abortion. This was a shame for my family. Despite the fact, that my brother wanted to kill me, I have not done abortion. I wanted to have this child” (34 years old single mother, living in abandoned house).
Research, concerning single mothers, was held by "Anti-Violence Network of Georgia". The aim was to clarify material and non-material difficulties, which face women in the process of establishing paternity through DNA test.
60 women took part in this research.
Single mother is a woman, which have a child, registered on her surname. Since the changes of Civil Code in 2011, Georgian legislation gives opportunity of establishing paternity through court. If father refuses, mother can apply to the court and require DNA analysis of father.
As the analysis has shown, main difficulty in the case of DNA analysis is women’s financial condition. DNA fee in Georgian expert institutions is 1600 GEL. Women have to pay only one part of this amount (800 GEL), but even this is difficult for some of women.
After the research, most of single mother are 20-40 years old, they have higher education and mostly, live in cities. Most of respondents are in unregistered relation with child’s presumable biological father, some of them are married. Average length of these relations is 3-6 months. Most of them terminated relations after pregnancy.
“Single mothers are victims of strong discrimination and stigmatization. Their financial situation worsens after childbirth”- tell researchers.
Researchers discuss single mothers’ problems in gender aspect and think, that woman and man have equal rights, but due to discrimination, based on social-cultural norms, the status of women and girls is lower, they are not free to choose, to make decision, they have not access to different possibilities.
What about the reaction of children’s father, only 8 women out of 60 told, that their reaction was positive, most of them wanted women to do abortion and refused to have relation with future child.
Most of single mothers have financial problems. 20 out of 60 questioned women told that nobody helps them financially. 7 women told that biological father helps them periodically. 8 women get assistance from the members of shelters. 25 women get minimal assistance from their families.
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