Examining the Relationship Between Maternal Employment Guilt and Internalized Sexism in Mothers with Preschool Children

Abstract

Motherhood is an important part of gender inequality discussions and the basis of the unequal division of labor based on gender is mostly based on motherhood roles. It is stated that employed women have a high level of work-family conflict, perceive themselves to be far from being the "ideal" mother, and have higher levels of guilt. The internalization of sexist standards is thought to be effective in triggering and increasing feelings of guilt. In this context, this research sought to examine the sense of guilt felt by working mothers of pre-school children and the relationship of this feeling with internalized sexism and sociodemographic variables. 209 working mothers of pre-school children either in a part-time or full-time job participated in the study. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were employed in the study. The results showed that the mother’s guilt was positively related to the sub-dimensions of internalized sexism. Specifically, internalized powerlessness/loss of self and self-objectification from sub-dimensions of internalized sexism significantly predicted the mother’s guilt. Additionally, weekly working hours and the number of children also predicted the mother’s guilt. These results are important in terms of revealing the risks caused by the internalization of sexist norms that put serious pressure on mothers. Efforts towards gender equality are of great importance in increasing the quality of life for mothers in the family life and workplace.

Keywords

• Mother Employment Guilt
• Internalized Sexism
• Loss of Self
• Self-Objectification
• Mother Role

Okul öncesi Dönemde Çocuğu Olan Annelerde Anne İstihdam Suçluluğu ve İçselleştirilmiş Cinsiyetçilik Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Annelik toplumsal cinsiyet eşitsizliği tartışmalarında önemli bir yere sahiptir ve cinsiyete dayalı eşitsiz iş bölümünün temeli çoğunlukla annelik rollerine dayandırılmaktadır. Özellikle çalışan, yüksek düzeyde iş - aile çatışması yaşayan ve kendilerini “ideal” anne olmaktan oldukça uzak algılayan kadınların daha yüksek düzeyde suçluluk duydukları belirtilmektedir. Yaşanan suçluluk duygularında ise cinsiyetçi standartların içselleştirilmesinin etkili olduğu düşünülmektedir. Bu çerçevede araştırmamızın amacı, okul öncesi dönemde çocuğu olan annelerin istihdama ilişkin yaşadıkları suçluluk duygularının içselleştirilmiş cinsiyetçilik ve sosyo - demografik değişkenler açısından incelenmesidir. Araştırma, betimsel ve ilişkisel bir araştırma olarak tasarlanmıştır. Araştırmaya bir işte çalışan ve okul öncesi dönemde çocuğu bulunan 209 anne katılmıştır. Çalışmada betimsel analizler, korelasyon ve çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Sonuçlar, anne istihdam suçluluğunun içselleştirilmiş cinsiyetçiliğin benlik kaybı/ içselleştirilmiş güçsüzlük, kendini nesneleştirme, derogasyon ve erkeği önceleme alt boyutlarıyla pozitif yönde ilişkili olduğunu ve içselleştirilmiş cinsiyetçilik içerisinde de anne istihdam suçluluğunu anlamlı düzeyde yordayan boyutların benlik kaybı / içselleştirilmiş güçsüzlük ve kendini nesneleştirme olduğunu göstermiştir. Yine haftalık çalışma saati ve çocuk sayısı da istihdam suçluluğunu yordamaktadır. Bu sonuçlar annelerin üzerinde ciddi bir baskı yaratan cinsiyetçi normların içselleştirilmesinin yarattığı riskleri ortaya çıkarması açısından önem taşımaktadır. Annelerin özel ve kamusal alandaki hayat kalitesini arttırma konusunda cinsiyet eşitliğine yönelik çabalar büyük önem taşımaktadır.

Keywords

• Anne İstihdam Suçluluğu
• İçselleştirilmiş Cinsiyetçilik
• Benlik Kaybı
• Kendini Nesneleştirme
• Anne Rolü

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