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Exploring the lived experiences of Singapore’s “opt‐out” mothers: Introducing “Professional Motherhood”

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  • Ben Kerrane
  • Emma Banister
  • Hadi Wijaya

Abstract

This article explores the experiences of 10 educated middle‐class Singaporean women who act in contrast to the state's neoliberal focus on continuous employment, opting‐out of full‐time professional work to intensively parent their children. Using the theoretical lens of intensive motherhood and a qualitative longitudinal approach, we explore how these women legitimize their position, highlighting a culturally specific performance of motherhood (“Professional Motherhood”). Professional motherhood enrolls elements of former professional identities and skillsets into everyday motherhood, performed through three strategies: positioning, productive, and practicing motherhood. We contribute to existing literature by demonstrating that culturally informed variations of motherhood exist beyond the (largely Western) dominant lens of intensive motherhood ideology. Professional motherhood is experienced as a radical step by women, proving partially successful in legitimizing opt‐out decisions. However, by incorporating and further emphasizing deeply ingrained ideal worker expectations, women risk further upholding the state's competing logics and their obligations as mothers/workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben Kerrane & Emma Banister & Hadi Wijaya, 2022. "Exploring the lived experiences of Singapore’s “opt‐out” mothers: Introducing “Professional Motherhood”," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 863-879, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:29:y:2022:i:3:p:863-879
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.12805
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rosalind Gill & Shani Orgad, 2018. "The Amazing Bounce-Backable Woman: Resilience and the Psychological Turn in Neoliberalism," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 23(2), pages 477-495, June.
    2. Robyn Mayes & Penelope Williams & Paula McDonald, 2020. "Mums with cameras: Technological change, entrepreneurship and motherhood," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(6), pages 1468-1484, November.
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