Abstract
ABSTRACTWork–family research has focused predominantly on western women. Yet the forms of economic labour in which women are typically involved and the meaning of motherhood are context specific. This article aims to explore the experience of combining economic activity and child care of mothers with young children using urban Ghana as a case study. Semi-structured interviews (n = 24) were conducted in three locations in the Accra Metropolitan Area. Transcripts were analysed using the general inductive approach. The results found women’s experience of role conflict to be bi-directional. With regard to role enhancement, economic activity allowed women to provide materially for their children. The combination of work and child care had negative consequences for women’s well-being. This research questions policy-makers’ strategy of frequently targeting women in their roles either as generators of income or as the primary care-takers of children by highlighting the reality of women’s simultaneous performance of these roles.
Highlights
The meaning of mothers, mothering and motherhood as well as the forms of economic labour in which women are typically involved vary over time, by country and by cultural background
Using Accra, Ghana as a case study, this research uses qualitative methods to explore the experience of combining economic activity and child care of mothers with young children
A total of 24 mothers were included in the study: nine had temporarily withdrawn from economic activity; six were currently engaged in economic activity and their primary child care arrangement was to care for their child whilst working; and nine were engaged in economic activity but their primary child care arrangement was to use a crèche or grandmother to care for their child whilst they worked
Summary
The meaning of mothers, mothering and motherhood as well as the forms of economic labour in which women are typically involved vary over time, by country and by cultural background. Prior work–family research has focused predominantly on western women (Mokomane, 2014). The context of sub-Saharan Africa is dynamic in that it is undergoing social, economic and demographic changes (Mokomane, 2013). These changes are likely to have important implications for women combining economic and child care roles, including consequences for family health and well-being (Oppong, 2004). The article begins with discussion of motherhood and child care arrangements in urban Ghana, and highlights the need to conduct research on the work–family interface in non-western contexts
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