Human history isn’t just built on laws and institutions – it’s shaped by primal reflexes and archetypes. Beneath the polished surface of modern democracies lurk age-old behaviors: the exclusion of the weak, suspicion of the unfamiliar, and silent punishment of difference.
Single mothers in France – and beyond – are not just social categories. They are living proof of a collective unconscious that rejects what it doesn’t understand. Their daily struggles, largely invisible in major public policies, expose a harsh reality: society still operates on pack instincts.
Instinct vs. Exception: Why Single Mothers Face Social Exclusion
Exclusion isn’t random. It’s rooted in psychological mechanisms well documented by social sciences:
- The Gregarious Instinct: Freud noted in Group Psychology that anything deviating from social norms triggers rejection. A single mother, outside the traditional patriarchal family model, disrupts this order – and faces marginalization.
- Reflexive Domination: Stanford neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky’s studies of primates show how hierarchical groups pressure vulnerable members. Translated to human workplaces and institutions, this manifests as marginalization, job insecurity, or even harassment.
- The Uncomfortable Mirror: Jung believed that what we exclude outside ourselves often reflects our internal fears. The single mother embodies the fragility that many would rather ignore.
The numbers tell a stark story:
- Single-parent households in France face a higher suicide risk than the general population, according to the 6th National Suicide Observatory report (DREES, 2025). Women are disproportionately affected, particularly in self-harm hospitalizations.
- 78% of single mothers report facing discriminatory or condescending remarks at work (Defender of Rights Barometer, 2022).
Europe’s Divide: How Culture Shapes the Instinct to Reject
Europe paints a divided picture:
- Nordic countries have managed to soften social instincts through strong equality policies.
- Southern countries, weighed down by Catholic tradition and the nuclear family ideal, still stigmatize “deviant” mothers.
France reflects this tension:
- 82% of single mothers work – above the European average (Insee, 2023).
- But 43% hold precarious jobs: temporary contracts, involuntary part-time, erratic hours.
- Single-parent families make up nearly a quarter of all families with children under 18, and 85% of these parents are women (Insee, 2022).
This gap between individual effort and social recognition reveals the silent violence of collective exclusion.
ESG: A New Weapon Against Predatory Social Behaviors
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies could be more than financial tools – they could reshape social behavior:
- The Social pillar must include clear metrics for single mothers: fair access to parental leave, audits of sexist conduct, and transparency on discrimination sanctions.
- The Governance pillar should implement alert systems for early signs of exclusion – informal sidelining, workplace pressure, or professional isolation.
These measures don’t just fix injustices – they catch predatory patterns early, whether institutional, social, or economic.
Breaking the Cycle: Lessons from Abroad
Some countries show the way:
- Sweden offers universal free childcare and tax benefits designed for single-parent families.
- Portugal supports single mothers through Casas de Acolhimento – centers offering psychological help, training, and reintegration.
- Iceland demands corporate transparency on parental equality and inclusion policies.
These models prove that instincts can be overcome – with political will and strong institutions.
Time to Rethink Our Reflexes
Our treatment of single mothers says more about society than about them. It reflects a reflex to punish difference, hide vulnerability, and reject discomfort.
But no society can thrive on fear or contempt. This is about collective well-being – not just morality.
As Albert Camus said, “To misname things is to add to the misfortune of the world.” It’s time to call out the root cause: our unexamined social instincts – and replace them with rational, political, and humane choices.
Sources:
DREES (French Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics), Santé publique France, Insee, Observatoire des inégalités