The introductory chapter introduces the reader to the characteristics of the single parent group in the Western world and discusses the applied terms single mother, solo mother and single father in relation to previous research. It outlines the book and summarises each chapter with a brief discussion of the main results. The concluding discussion illuminates central themes throughout the book, mainly by juxtaposing how the genders are represented, and by stating that single parenthood is far from unambiguous, neither in practice nor in how it is represented. It is divided along the lines of gender and socioeconomic status where age, sexuality, and the reason for the singleness come into play.