The effects of being a working mother on home, work and social life

Women have been involved in the economy in many different conditions in the historical process. In particular, the change brought about by the Industrial Revolution in working life affected the position of women in economic and social life. In this sense, the involvement of women in manufacturing activities outside the home has been a matter of concern to the family at the micro level and social order at the macro level. The evaluation of women as different from men in working life is mostly associated with fertility and motherhood. In this process, where gender roles are effective, it has emerged that being a mother in business life has multidimensional effects. The relationship between motherhood and working life that directly affects the family and society; it is very important at the level of the mother, family life and society. In this study, the phenomenological pattern of qualitative research methodology was utilized. Participants are composed of working mothers of 14 who work at the Uzunköprü State Hospital. Purposive sampling method is used in the study. Sampling techniques based on the criteria was taken into account for determining of working group. Semi-structure interview is used in this study which covered qualitative data collection techniques. The participants' experiences and opinions of working mothers were determined through a semi-structured interview form of 21 questions applied to mothers. The findings were primarily codified, themes were identified and descriptive analyses were carried out in this direction. In the light of the data obtained, the positive and negative effects of being a working mother in the public sector were determined and the experiences, perceptions and feelings of the participants towards being a working mother were tried to be revealed. The positive effects of being a mother working in the public sector; self-realization, bringing an active life, having a wide social environment, positively affecting the perspective of the work and the relationship with the child. Negative effects; time constraints, the obligation to make sacrifices, feelings of guilt in the relationship with the child, sexist division of labor, exposure to negative discrimination at work and having a limited social environment. In this sense; It is aimed to identify the problems faced by working mothers and to present solutions for improvement with a social work perspective. It is thought that the research will contribute to the literature of social work and the determination of policies for working mothers.