the wider and more cohesive the network the greater its capacity to adapt to crises such as caring for children whose biological parents are absent for some reason ibid mothers and female relations are increasingly responsible for daily provision while mothers and fathers are increasingly looked to for guidance around sexual relationships and morality though their provision is usually judged inadequate as described below further discussion of these structural determinants is provided under research question below for example research using lifehistory interviewing over three generations of families in cape town found that young mothers are increasingly emphasising the achievement of personal goals and working on the project of the selfmoore this newer conception of motherhood sits alongside aspirations to be a good provider and source of care to children unlike their own mothers and grandmothers young mothers commitment to motherhood is vested in their sense of self as educated employed selfrespecting and responsible adults rather than in the sole social identity of mother ibid