Negotiated identities: Between “moral career” and professional career of single mothers in Jakarta

Abstract

This article seeks to answer the following research questions: How do single working mothers in Jakarta negotiate their moral careers and professional careers? What self-identities do they adopt whereby they view themselves as different from other mothers? Results indicate that, in being single working mothers, the biggest sacrifice they make is not spending adequate time with their children, which leads to a sense of guilt. Despite the help of family members, it is in them that the working single mothers struggle the most, juggling motherhood and work. Nonetheless, being able to conduct both their personal lives and professional careers gives them a sense of completeness. Although their professional careers are important, motherhood is their predominant identity. Also, there is a stigma attached to single mothers who are seen as sexually promiscuous. The social construct of the idealized Indonesian woman associates personal interest and goals with women defying their kodrat or destiny. Therefore, single working mothers not only struggle with the ideologies of moral motherhood, but also face social problems in their everyday lives.