Women, career, and family : Policies and personal experiences in the US and abroad

Background: Relatively recent increases in female labor force participation rates have created new demands for women in their attempt to balance motherhood and work. Policies affect women's ability to achieve this balance; influencing not only the economic and overall well-being of the mother, but also the health of the developing child. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with career women in Boston, MA (n=8) and expatriate career women in the Netherlands (n=9). Interviews included questions about relevant policies, timing of pregnancy and career, impact of childbirth on work, flexible work arrangements, partnership roles at home, childcare, and maternal experiences of stress/guilt. NVivo was used for qualitative data analysis. Results: A review of workforce and childcare-related policies revealed dramatic differences across various developed countries. Analysis of the qualitative data is not yet complete; however, several themes have already emerged in the comparison of women's work/family experiences in US vs. non-US countries. US women frequently spoke of a desire for assistance with the transition from maternity-leave to work, and for greater support for childcare and breastfeeding upon return to work. They endorsed frequent feelings of stress and guilt. Compared to US-women, expatriate women living in the Netherlands reported greater acceptance and use of flexible work arrangements. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insight into the personal experiences of working mothers living in the US and abroad, regarding how their country's policies and support systems shape their experience balancing career and family demands, and the types of changes that are needed moving forward.