Motherhood and a Successful Career

Various studies claim that it is very difficult for women to "have it all" in terms of financial stability, marriage, children and career while other studies convey that it is challenging for mothers in different fields of work to progress to top positions. Through a mixed-method approach involving working mothers, what it takes to live up to one's potential at work, to access top positions and the challenges faced in maintaining a feasible work-life balance, are explored. Ideas on how to alleviate such challenges are also pooled and discussed. Mothers in managerial positions are interviewed (n=7) in order to empirically explore how they make sense and respond to their professional desires, responsibilities and expectations within the context of motherhood. This is triangulated with a survey (n=291) in order to obtain an overall indication of how working mothers approach their work-life balance and respond to the notions of further education and career progression. The study produces very interesting results; which are discussed at depth, together with the feasibility and challenges and the need for standardisation, regulation and monitoring of family-friendly measures at work.