Jane

Jane is a single mother who grew up in a middle position of a large and transient family. She graduated from a modified high school home economics program and had her first child, a son, shortly after high school, followed by a second son and a daughter. After school, Jane babysits two of her sisters' and a friend's children all who reside in the same low-income neighbourhood. Jane informs me that her telephone has been disconnected for "as long as [she] can remember" by the telephone company since she ran up a bill that she could not pay by becoming addicted to calling 1-900 numbers¹⁸.

The absence of a telephone did not pose any significant problems for Jane since in emergencies she felt she was able to use a neighbour's telephone. Although she says she is criticized by others, including her children's teachers, for not having her own telephone, she knows that she cannot have that temptation in front of her and so makes do without a telephone. School staff express concerns about this barrier to having timely contact with Jane. They are uncomfortable about having to reach her through a neighbour.

For leisure pursuits, Jane plays in the dart league with her sisters and some friends in the neighbourhood and enjoys doing crossword puzzles. Her children are involved in bowling. The family has an extensive movie collection and they typically watch a movie each night together.

¹⁸ 1-900 numbers are direct marketing business telephone lines that charge the caller a fee by the minute for information or services. The lines are frequently used by psychics, for sex lines and for other adult entertainment.