The social role of mother after the cessation of marital and extra-marital relationship

Abstract

Th e article deals with the role of mother during the time of marital relation
and after its cessation from the sociological point of view. It presents several
theoretical lines of the institution of motherhood together with the historical
development of mother’s role. It also provides a description of marital relationship,
as well as reasons that lead to its breakup (divorce). In addition, it
also gives an outline of consequences related to the execution of mother’s and
father’s social role. After the cessation of marital and extra-marital relationship
the role of mothers is signifi cantly increased, whereas the role of fathers
is importantly diminished. However, such scenario is not in accordance with
mothers’ expectations. Both parents are usually prepared to keep contact and
to co-operate for well-being of their children because they perceive such co-operation
as important and needed. Mothers often expect fathers’ co-operation if
they see the father’s infl uence on their child(ren) as positive. Nonetheless, there
are some mothers who reject any contact with the father of their child(ren)
after the divorce, yet they are prepared to seek help concerning the counselling,
and express their overall contentment with the functioning of the existing
state institutions. Yet, they often don’t have any oversight and are not familiar
with NGO’s and their operation.