Children of Immigrants - 14
Hardship and Social Support.
Marriage makes a large difference for immigrants only among one dimension of material
hardship, financial hardship. Other types of material hardship do not vary greatly, although
unmarried immigrant mothers do less well along all types, except with hardship paying the rent.
Unmarried immigrant mothers also face more hardship associated with works schedules and
work inflexibility. At the same time, immigrant mothers who are unmarried are significantly less
likely to have received social support in the form of financial help, child care (for other children),
and a place to live during her pregnancy.
Table 10. Material Hardship
Unmarried Mothers
Married Mothers
Material Hardship
Immigrant
Native
Immigrant
Native
Food 8.9
9.5
5.8 4.7
Housing (Move-in)
10.9
15.0
7.1 4.6
Housing (Rent)
11.4 13.1 13.2 9.0
Utilities 16.3
21.3
14.5
17.3
Financial 36.2
56.4
22.2
22.1
Medical 5.7
5.6
5.6 4.3
Table 11. Hardships Associated with Work
Unmarried Mothers
Married Mothers
Hardship Associated with
Work
Immigrant
Native
Immigrant
Native
Evening work**
Night work**
Weekend work
Diff. time each week***
32.7
23.6
57.4
28.2
41.0
17.5
58.1
37.8
30.4
18.7
45.7
23.6
36.9
13.0
46.4
29.9
Work Schedule Inflexibility
/ Childcare Prob.*
16.7
10.8 13.4 14.7
Convention