Status of living and network of support of the single parents families in Macau

Abstract

After the deregulation of casino gambling policy, Macau's economy becomes vibrant and flourishing. Notwithstanding this, improvement in living standard of the under-privileged groups is still far from satisfactory. Drawing on empirical data obtained from three consecutive territory-wide household surveys conducted in 2005, 2007 and 2009 respectively, this paper attempts to examine the living condition and supporting network of the single parent families (i.e. families with divorced, separated or widowed parent and dependent children) in Macau. On the whole, one-tenth of the respondents fall into the category of single parent families. These families are overwhelmingly headed by female whose education level is lower, older in age and mainly non- local born. Structure of the single parent families is similar to the double parent families, except the missing of one parent. Although their working condition, job nature and length of working hour don't show significant different, their personal relation with other people clearly differ, particularly with their spouse, children and siblings. In-depth analysis also shows that single parent families are less happy in daily life while social discrimination from all levels and rigid government welfare policy add more stress on their shoulders.

自開放博彩業政策落實後’澳門的經濟一片火熱’雖則如此’弱勢群體的生活仍然未能全面改善。本文利用2005、2007及2009年連績三次全澳入户調查的實證數據’嘗試勾勒其中一頮弱勢群體一單親家庭〔即離異、鰥寡而育有未成年子女的家庭）之生活及支援網絡的狀況’説明他們在社會急速變遷下的處境。總體而言’接近一成受訪者來自單親家庭’其户主絕大多數為女性’並且呈現了學歷較低、年齡較長及較多屬内地出生的特徵。住户結構除了因為單親家庭缺少其中一家長的特殊因素外’單親家庭與雙親家庭的結構模式差別不大。至於就業狀況、工作性質與工作時數等的差異亦不大。然而’在人際關係與支援網络方面’單親家庭則明類有所不同。與配偶關係惡劣乃預期之内的差別’與子女關係、與兄弟姐妹關係均較不如意則頗出人意表。數據顯示’單親家庭的“快樂指數”明顯較低’日常生活中在不同層面受到歧視及政府福利政策過於僵化等’則令他們増添了不少壓力。