Work — yes, careers — no

Abstract

Women with children work for a range of reasons, but importantly they wish to establish and maintain an identity beyond motherhood (Sharpe, 1984) and bridge the gap between the private and public spheres. In this chapter I shall discuss work and its importance for the majority of the women interviewed, combined as it often is with diverse ambitions and a reluctance to orientate towards building a career. Inevitably, the relationship between working and mothering will be touched on here, as most women’s lives are structured in such a way that it is difficult to compartmentalise different areas; many women are reluctant to do so anyway, As Leena’s comment above indicates. The different threads of the lives of the women interviewed are more particularly pulled together in Chapter 7 (including housework as work). How working, children and childcare are combined is discussed in Chapter 6.

If I didn’t have my family and children as a source of strength, I would probably not bother to do all that I do at work. But through work I acquire my strongest identity which I need in the context of having an active husband, several children and me. If I didn’t have the identity acquired through work, I would also be weaker at home. It all ties up together very strongly. (Leena)