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

ABSTRACT The intensive mothering ideology prescribes the right way to be a mother, limiting a mother’s opportunity to engage in paid work outside of the home. Working mothers face a magnitude of stressors and often struggle to meet the demands of their multiple roles. This phenomenological study examined the experiences of 15 working mothers to understand how they navigate their careers in a culture that place high expectations on mothers.