Balancing Life: The Struggles of Working Mothers with Children 5 Years Old and Below in Benguet State University, Philippines
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Abstract
The study documented the struggles of working mothers in balancing their daily lives between family and career. Using snowball technique, the study purposively sampled 25 working mothers employed in Benguet State University. Results showed that financial and personal development drive the working mothers to engage in paid labor. Along with these are the challenges and struggles centered primarily on childcare. Their status as ‘absentee mothers’ cause qualms in terms of their emotional bond with their children and affect the behavioral development of the child. Hence, these mothers employ some mechanisms to fulfill their childcare duties to include spending quality time with their child or children and from time to time requesting child care from relatives, hired nanny, or child care center. With these situations, enhancing the existing policies and additional practical support including the possible establishment of child-minding center inside the university were seen to significantly assist the working mothers. Provision of emotional and practical support from the immediate family and workplace are also essential factors in attaining and maintaining work-life balance among these mothers.
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References
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