Maternal role of clerical workers: a feminist analysis

This paper presents the qualitative findings about women's maternal role from an interview study of role integration and health in a U.S. sample of 87 women clerical workers. The data draws from clerical women's perceptions of the satisfactions and stresses they experience in their roles as mothers, the coping strategies they use, and the resources available to them. The analysis provided is based on participants' descriptions of their subjective experiences as mothers within the larger context of managing domestic responsibilities and fulltime jobs outside their homes. Results suggest that women in clerical jobs find many aspects of their maternal role satisfying, like participating in their children's growth, nurturing them, receiving unconditional love, and finding companionship. However, they identify multiple and pervasive stresses including boundless worries, strained relationships, overload, child care problems, and financial burdens. Many of their coping strategies are solitary in nature, although they also engage in active problem-solving, especially when they have to juggle child care and occupational responsibilities. Many do not view their spouses as sources of emotional and tangible support in childrearing. In addition to an in-depth discussion of qualitative findings, the authors examine implications for social policy, intervention, and future research about multiple roles and health.