A phenomenological investigation into the role of intensive mothering in working mothers’ career experiences

Mothering Identity Experiences: A Backwards Glance

“…As these themes can evoke feelings of guilt, self-doubt, grief, insecurity, angst, grief, and other challenging emotions, mothers may seek professional help to navigate those concerns. Mothers may not realize that some of the identified challenges are inherent to motherhood and misunderstand their source (Forbes et al, 2020; Lamar & Forbes, 2020; Rizzo et al, 2013; Rizzo & Watsford, 2020). If mental health professionals are aware of this research, they can incorporate assessment regarding the experience of each role clients who are also mothers play in their daily life.…”

“…Hays (1996) labeled the structural components of the prevailing sentiment around the ideal mother and a woman's adherence to this institutionalized belief as “intensive mothering.” Prikhidko and Swank (2018) noted that these societal pressures of motherhood, as well as the internalized expectations for a mother to achieve the lofty ideal mother, versus the realities of motherhood, may have implications for healthy emotional and mental functioning. Additional research (Forbes et al, 2020; Lamar & Forbes, 2020; Rizzo et al, 2013; Rizzo & Watsford, 2020) supported increased stress, depression, and decreased life satisfaction for mothers whose identity centered around these traditional mothering ideals. However, the focus of studies such as these seemed to be also on the activities associated with mothering rather than perceptions and experiences of mothering and identity.…”

The cost of intersectionality: Motherhood, mental health, and the state of the country

“…As discussed, parents of all races and genders engage in socialization practices with their children (Hagerman, 2016; Kulish et al., 2019; Woo et al., 2020). However, Black parents have historically communicated racial socialization messages that are necessary to prepare their children to cope with the racism, discrimination, and prejudice that Black individuals encounter in the US (Thomas et al., 2010).…”

“…Despite an increase in women who have entered the workforce, scholars today suggest similar findings as societal values of intensive mothering are ever-present (Ennis, 2014;Women's Bureau, US Department of Labor, 2020). In a qualitative study investigating mothers' experiences of navigating their roles as workers and mothers, Lamar and Forbes (2020) found that mothers face challenges related to: (a) their identification as a mother, (b) adequate childcare, (c) the desire to be a positive role model, and (d) doubts associated with choosing work over family. Additionally, findings from Henderson et al (2016) suggest that while women may resist the intensity of mothering responsibilities, societal standards to meet perfection as a mother remain.…”

Giving a lot of ourselves: How mother leaders in higher education experienced parenting and leading during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Hochschild (1989) is well known for her term "second shift" to describe the continued work parents face when they return from their income-producing work and begin their second shift caring for children, family, and managing the home. Specifically, mothers have to manage cultural expectations of family commitment and devotion, as well as strive to be the proverbial ideal worker (Williams, 2000;Blair-Loy, 2005) in what is considered an intensive mothering culture, which impacts both stayat-home mothers and working mothers (Lamar and Forbes, 2020). Intensive mothering is a term coined by Hays (1996) which is an ideology that came about more than 65 years ago to describe the common motherhood expectations including being the primary and preferred caregiver, as well as an expert in child development.…”