Abstract
The purpose of this research is to analyze the data gathered from a survey that comprised members of online parental support communities. The data collected pertained to the parents attitudes and beliefs regarding the roles and responsibilities of motherhood related to employment and parenting. The aim of the analysis was to identify how mothers perceive the roles and responsibilities of motherhood in terms of economic, social, and emotional wellbeing. Data were obtained from a qualitative survey involving 45 mothers from an online support group. The survey was administered through the internet and asked open-ended questions about the roles and responsibilities of motherhood. The results of the analysis showed that mothers perceived the roles and responsibilities of motherhood to be complex balancing acts that required strong emotional and physical support systems. Mothers reported feeling both rewarded and overwhelmed by their tasks, with the most commonly cited tasks being those related to childcare, education, and career management. The results of the research show that mothers perceive their roles and responsibilities as multi-faceted, requiring support both at home and in the workplace.
Introduction
Motherhood is a complex role that can result in multiple rewards and challenges. It is a role that has traditionally placed emphasis on the mother as the primary caretaker and nurturer of children. However, with an increasing number of mothers entering the workforce, the roles and responsibilities of motherhood have become more complex. This complexity has been further compounded by the fact that many mothers are taking on multiple roles including working outside of the home and fulfilling domestic duties. This has created the need to analyze mothers attitudes and beliefs regarding the roles and responsibilities of motherhood related to employment and parenting. With this in mind, the aim of this research was to gain insight into mothers attitudes and beliefs relating to the roles and responsibilities of motherhood.
Methodology
Data were collected from 45 mothers, who were members of an online support group, using a qualitative survey. The survey consisted of five questions asking mothers to describe the roles and responsibilities of motherhood, the resources they believed they needed to fulfil those duties, and their feelings about their current workload. The questions were open-ended, in order to encourage participants to provide detailed responses on the topics. The survey was administered via the internet and was voluntary. The responses were collected and analyzed using a thematic analysis.
Results
The results of the analysis revealed a variety of themes relating to the roles and responsibilities of motherhood. Of the 45 respondents, the majority reported feeling both rewarded and overwhelmed by the duties of motherhood. The most commonly cited tasks were those related to childcare, education, and career management. These tasks ranged from managing childrens daily schedules and ensuring their emotional wellbeing to scheduling doctor’s appointments and navigating the school system. The majority of respondents felt that the roles and responsibilities of motherhood could not be adequately met without emotional and physical support from family and friends.
The respondents also reported that they felt they needed additional resources, such as increased financial support, better work-life balance and flexible schedules, in order to have enough time and energy to effectively meet their children’s needs. Furthermore, they reported feeling that societal and familial expectations placed upon them were often unrealistic.
Discussion
This research aimed to gain insight into mothers’ attitudes and beliefs regarding the roles and responsibilities of motherhood. The results of the analysis revealed that mothers perceive the roles and responsibilities of motherhood to be complex balancing acts that require strong emotional and physical support systems. Mothers reported feeling both rewarded and overwhelmed by their tasks, with the most commonly cited tasks being those related to childcare, education, and career management. Furthermore, the respondents highlighted the need for greater resources and more flexible schedules, in order to more adequately meet the demands of motherhood.
The findings from this study indicate that mothers perceive their roles and responsibilities as multi-faceted, requiring support both at home and in the workplace. These findings support previous research showing that mothers are under a great deal of pressure to both perform their domestic roles and contribute to the economic wellbeing of their families through paid work (Hondagneu-Sotelo, 2018; Novo, 2018). This tension between work and family can have negative impacts on women’s wellbeing, as they are often unable to achieve the balance necessary to adequately fulfil both their maternal and professional duties (Hondagneu-Sotelo, 2018; Novo, 2018).
Conclusion
The results of this research have provided an understanding of how mothers perceive the roles and responsibilities of motherhood in terms of economic, social, and emotional wellbeing. This information can provide helpful insight in guiding policymaking and providing support and guidance to mothers. Furthermore, this research has highlighted the need for more flexible work schedules, greater access to financial resources, and more emotional and physical support for mothers. Future research should consider the roles and responsibilities of fathers, as well as the effects of societal and familial expectations.
