Employment, Motherhood and Wellbeing: A Discourse on the Trio within Public Organisations in Southwest Nigeria
Keywords:
Downloads
Abstract
African women in public service experience some issues in their bid to juggle between their jobs and parenting; however, not much is available within the literature to explain these dynamics. This study seeks to document this by understanding their experiences, the coping strategies adopted and the implications on the respondents’ wellbeing and that of their children. For quantitative data, a total number of one hundred and sixty questionnaires were purposively administered to mothers with infants working within the selected organizations and complemented with twenty in-depth interview schedules. Findings: a majority (40.0 percent) of the respondents were aged 31-40 years. About 73.0 percent claimed their challenges include how to combine paid employment with motherhood while 26 .9 percent attributed it to finance. Respondents mentioned that their children experience diarrhoea and malaria (22.2 percent), loss of appetite and weakness (23.1 percent) while they are away to work. On the part of the mothers, 62.3 percent claimed that their major challenges are stress and in ability to focus on their work. Respondents further argued that child spacing (7.5 percent) and support from husband (17.5 percent) are part of their coping mechanisms. Working mothers need a more conducive atmosphere for career development and parenting.
Downloads
References
Albelda, R. (2009). Why it’s harder (and different) for single mothers: Gender, motherhood, labor markets and public work supports. Center for Social Policy and Department of Economics University of Massachusetts Boston January
Google Scholar CrossrefAmmaniti, M., Ambruzzi M.; Lucarelli, L; Cimino, L; & Linpio F.(2004). Malnutrition and dysfunctional mother-child feeding interaction: Clinical assessment and research implications. Journal of the American college of Nutrition Vol 23, No3, pp 259-271.
Google Scholar CrossrefBarnett, R. C., Marshall, N. L., & Sayer, A. (1992). Positive-spillover effects from job to home: A closer look. Women and Health, 19(2/3), 13-41.
Google Scholar CrossrefBasu, A. (1992). Women economic roles and child health: An overview Presented at the International Conference on Population and Development [ICPD], Expert Group Meeting on Population and Women, Gaborone, Botswana, June 22-26. 17 p.
Google Scholar CrossrefBolzendahl C., & Meyers, D.J. (2004). Feminist attitudes and support for gender equality: Opinion change in women and men, 1974-1998. Social Forces 83(2):759-790.
Google Scholar CrossrefBudig, M. & England, P. (2001). The wage penalty for motherhood. American Sociological Review. 66, 204-225.
Google Scholar CrossrefCarr P.L., Ash A.S., Friedman R.H., Scaramucci A., Barnett R.C, Szalacha L., Palepu A., & Moskowitz M.A. (1998). Relation of family responsibilities and gender to the productivity and career satisfaction of medical faculty. Ann Intern Med., 129 (7): 532–538.
Google Scholar CrossrefCharles N & Harris C. (2007). Continuity and change in work–life balance choices. British Journal of Sociology 58 (2): 277-295.
Google Scholar CrossrefChete, L.N., Adeoti, J.O., Adeyinka, F.M., & Ogundele, O. (2014). Industrial development and growth in Nigeria: Lessons and challenges. Learning to Complete Working Paper (2114) No 8 http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2014/11/learning-to-compete/L2C_WP8_Chete-et-al.pdf?la=en.
Google Scholar CrossrefCorrell, S., Bernard, S., & Paik, I. (2007). Getting a Job: Is there a motherhood penalty? American Journal of Sociology. 112, 1297-1338.
Google Scholar CrossrefEllison, A., Barker, A., & Kulasuriya, A.(2009). Work and care: a study of modern parents Equality and Human Rights Commission Research Report Series www.equalityhumanrights.com. Accessed on 21 January, 2016.
Google Scholar CrossrefEngle, P. L. (1991). Maternal work and child-care strategies in peri-urban Guatemala: Nutritional effects. Child Development 62 (1991) :954-965.
Google Scholar CrossrefFalzon, J.(2007). The Role of the Mother in the Child’s Development www.childabuse.suite101.com. Accessed on 13th Accessed on 13th may, 2015.
Google Scholar CrossrefGungor, G. & Biernat, M. (2009). Gender bias or motherhood disadvantage? Judgments of blue collar mothers and fathers in the workplace. Sex Roles, 60, 232-246.
Google Scholar CrossrefHakim, C. (2001). Work-Lifestyle Choices in the Twenty-First Century: Preference Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Google Scholar CrossrefHeilman, M. E. & Okimoto, T. G. (2008). Motherhood: A potential source of bias in employment decisions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(1), 189-198.
Google Scholar CrossrefHein, C.; Cassirer, N. (2010). Workplace solutions for childcare Geneva, International Labour Office,
Google Scholar CrossrefHoffman, L.W. (1963). The effect of maternal employment on children The Employed Mother in America. Nye and Hoffman (eds) www.dowiley.com pp1469-7610.
Google Scholar CrossrefJoekes, S. (1989). Women's work and social support for child care in the Third World in J. Leslie and M. Paolisso (Eds.), Women, Work, and Child Welfare in the Third World, Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Google Scholar CrossrefKaiser Family Foundation. (2003). Women, work, and family health: A balancing act issue brief. April www.kff.org..
Google Scholar CrossrefKan, M.Y. (2007). Work orientation and wives’ employment careers: An evaluation of Hakim’s preference theory. Work and Occupations 34 (4): 430-462.
Google Scholar CrossrefKangas O., & Rostgaard, T. (2007) Preferences or institutions? Wo.rk family life opportunities in seven European countries, Journal of European Social Policy 17 (3): 240-256.
Google Scholar CrossrefLeslie, J., & Paolisso, M. (1989). Women, work and child welfare in the Third World. AAAS Selected Symposia Series, Colorado: (Westview Press).
Google Scholar CrossrefLeslie, J. (1989). Woman’s Work and Child Nutrition in the Third World in J. Leslie and M. Paolisso (Eds.), Women, Work, and Child Welfare in the Third World, Boulder, CO: (Westview Press).
Google Scholar CrossrefOmoruyi O. (1994). et al (Eds) Democratization in Africa- Nigeria perspectives. Vol.2 Benin city- Centre for Democratic Studies. P. 101.
Google Scholar CrossrefOrr, J. (1997). Working mothers: The double shift Socialist Review. (Issue 206,).
Google Scholar CrossrefParker, K., & Wang, W. (2013). Roles of Moms and Dads Converge as They Balance Work and Family Modern Parenthood March 14. Pew Research Center http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/03/14/modern-parenthood-roles-of-moms-and-dads-converge-as-they-balance-work-and-family/ accessed on 15th February, 2016.
Google Scholar CrossrefRidgeway, C. & Correll, S. (2004). Motherhood as a status characteristic. The Journal of Social issues, (60), 683-700.
Google Scholar CrossrefSun news online. (2013). Gender policies: The odds against women in Nigeria http://sunnewsonline.com/new/gender-policies-the-odds-against-women-in-nigeria/ accessed on 13th May, 2015.
Google Scholar CrossrefWilliams, C.L. (1992). The glass escalator: hidden advantages for men in the ‘female’ professions. Social Problems. (Vol 39, No 3, August). Pp 253–267.
Google Scholar CrossrefDownloads
Published
Almetric
Dimensions
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
All articles are published under Creative Commons copyright (CC BY). Authors hold the copyright and retain publishing rights without restrictions, but authors allow anyone to download, reuse, reprint, modify, distribute, and/or copy articles as the original source is cited.
