Pathways to Fracture: African American Mothers and the Complexities of Maternal Absence

Based on in-depth interviews with ten African American mothers, this article examines women's paths to separation from their minor children. Specifically, it focuses on the experiences of mothers who, for one reason or another, do not function as full-time parents and how they came to assume this status. The study examines the circumstances involved in the decision to transfer the custody of children to others. Two theoretical perspectives, biological imperative and social identity, are used to provide an understanding of Western ideals of mothering. Findings suggest that African American low-income mothers maintain ideals of mothering but that circumstances prevent them from living its reality.