Mothering ideologies : an exploratory study of why mothers work.

• Main Author: Norshahidah Aziz.
• Other Authors: Tan Joo Ean
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/21195
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The involvement of mothers of younger children in the labour market is a new phenomenon for Singapore. In a qualitative study of twenty married working mothers, with at least one child below the age of six years, this paper seeks to understand the reasons for maternal employment. It will be reported that working mothers in this study are working not out of necessity, but by their own choice. In addition, this paper identifies a typology of mothering ideologies among working mothers that reflects the interaction between mothering and employment. There are four types of working mothers in this study: (a) the home-maker, (b) the high-flyer, (c) the escapist, and (d) the transient. Finally, by providing useful insights to the characteristics of each of these mothers, this paper allows policy-makers to identify the problems that these mothers encounter and propose strategies for the benefit of the working mothers, family and children.