Family Day Care and a Modified Grounde+D Tbeory
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FAMILY DAY CARE AND TBE CENTRALITY OF cHILD CARE: A MODIFIED GROUNDE+D TBEORY APPROACH By Bmnda Leah Mager A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Gmduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requimment for the degiee of MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK Faculty of Social Work Univemity of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba (c) August, 1997 National Library Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographk SeMces services bibliographiques The au& has grzuiited a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence dowing the exclusive permettant à la National LI- of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distn'bute or sell reproduire, prêter, distriiuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or elecîronic formats. la forme de rnicrofiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électroniqe. The author re- omership of the L'auteur coaserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. 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Table of Contents Table of contents 1 Abstract v Acknowledgements vii Chapter 1: Introduction and Purpose of Study Introduction Relationship to Human Service Administration WorMFamily Stress Benefits and Limitations Motivation Support System Research Questions Methodologv Family Day Cam, Family Day Cam Providers, Human Service Workers and Home Workers Defined Summaty Chapter 2: Literature Review Theoretid Framewocks Feminist Politid Economy Framework Ethic of Care Framework Work-fmily Stress and Women Home-based Work Amngements Employed Mothers Motives Relltad to Child Care Arrangements Motives Related to Economic hstability Other Reawns for Startïng Home Work Benefits and Limitations of Family Day Cue and Home Work Strategies used by Women Home Workers Administration of Family Day Care Providers in Manitoba Child Day Care Office, Government of Manitoba, Family SeMces Provincial Coordinators Extemai Support Systems Family Day Care Association of Manitoba Manitoba Child Care Association Revenue Canada Employment and Immigration Canada Conclusion Chapter 3: Methodology Feminist Perspectives of Research Grounded Theory Methodology Rationale for Gromded ïheory Methodology and Feminist Perspectives on Research Sampling Participant Recniitment Confldentiaiity, Anonymity and Infomed Consent Data Collection Data Andysis Strengths and Limitations of Methods Chapter 4: Results Introduction Description of Participants Theme 1: Centrdity of Child Care Category 1: Vaiuing their mothenng role Category 2: High demand of mothering Category 3: Unable to aord and locate chiId care Category 4: Co~ectingto dey care children and their farnilies Category 5: Preference for home-like environment over institutional child care 92 Category 6: Education and trainhg in child care 93 Theme 2: WorWamily Stress 95 Categoiy 1: Long work day 96 Category 2: Physically and mentally chailenging work 98 Category 3 : Isolation 99 Category 4: Low and fluctuating income 100 iii Theme 3: Women as Primary Child Care Provider Category 1: Level of nimily support Category 2: Level of dry aue parent support Categoxy 3: Level of professionai association SUPpofl Category 4: LeveL of chüd day aire office and govemment support Theme 4: Resistùig the Limitations of Family Day Care Category 1: Level of public resistance Categocy 2: Setting boundarïes Categoty 2: Networking Category 3 : Acceptance and rationalization Category 4: Changing household standards Category 5: Purchasing help and appliances Category 6: Self-are Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusion Introduction Motivation to enter Family Day Care Centrality of Cam and an Ideological Cornmitment to Care Economic Motivation WorWFamily Stress The Social and Emaomic Exploitation of Pnmary Child Care Providers Family Day Care ProGders Raistance ta Limitations Women taLiag care of themselves Creating new opportunities Using support systerns Pubt ic resistance Implications for Family Day Care Policy and Administration Participants' Recommendations Economic and social recognition and support Transition to family day care Professional and social support Researchefs Recommendatïons Recomrnendations for Home Wor k in the Human Senrices Recommendations for Future Research Smmary Bibliography Appendix A Request for participation publisheû in the MASW and SASW newsletter Appendix B Letter to possible participants through agency/isociation Appendix C Letter of permission to agencies and association Appendix D Consent fonn Appendix E Schedde of data wtIectioa Appendix F Revised schedule of data colledon Appendix G Sample of sociological constructs and indicatm The purpose of this study is to determine the motivations, behaviours and experïence of womea FDC providen as hman se~cehome worken. A major concem is to determine the social, economic and politicai support structures available to women while caring for their own and day care childnn. The implications of the study findings on FDC policy and administration is addressed, The study analyzed interviews with eighteen FDC pmviden in rural and urban Manitoba Seventeen participants were licensed and held a membenhip in either the Manitoba Child Care Association (MCCA) or Family Day Care Association of Manitoba (FDCA). One participant was unlicensed and chose not to join a professional association. The "ethic of care" and feminist political economy theoretical frameworks facilitated interpretation of study data Previous research on worklfamily mess, home-based work arrangements, and FDC policy and administration provided a con- for examination. Using modified grounded theory methodology combineci with feminist research perspectives, four themes were identified. The "ccntrality of child care" was identified as the main theme and related to the other themes- This therne staîed that al1 women purposefully made child care a dominant role in their lives. FDC offered women the best oppoctunity to care for their children while eaming an income. Despite this, FDC primarïly increased worWfmily mess. The thesis study also found that the contradictory support pmviders received was based on their own and others' acceptance of the social nom which predominately places women as child care vi providen. This 1ed to them being sociaily and economically exploited. Providers dedt with diese disadvantages using public, group and individual strategies. This study found that as home workers, family day care (FDC)provïden are socially and economically exploited These expenences are a product of the undervduing of caring work and the view that FDC is a private arrangement between parents and providers. Only when child care is viewed as a collective and social responsibility will providers experience les exploitation. Child care policy that supports the licensing of FDC providers is one way child care can be assigned a social responsibility. However, it is not politically feasible to make dl providers license. To gain public support and recognition, child Gare licensing requirements and regdations need to be increased To encourage women to license, economic and social incentives are needed Govemment supported initiatives ofXered through licensing will also reduce the exploitation m)C providers experience. Finally, this study has implications for FDC administration. Provincial coordinators can reduce some disadvantages, in particular, problems with the administration of subsidies. Also, with adequaîe govemment support, the professional association can support, enhance and advocate for rexommen&tions in this study. vii Aclmow ledgements The support and encouragement I received throughout this research is deeply appreciated Many people were involved and helped produce this document L wouid like to thank the following people, for with them, this acwmplishment became a reality . To the FDC providen who grafiously gave me their time, thoughts and opinions of their caring roles and responsibilities. StaE at the MCCA and volunteers at the FDCA who assisted by providing informatÎon on FDC, providers, end their Associations. 1 am also grateful for having the opportunity to use their membership list to reach FDC providers across the province. The members of my diesis cornmittee eontributed to the completion of this project. Their interest in and validation of women's carïng was a major motivation for me. Their appreciaîïon of qualitative reseacch, particularly grounded theory methodology, was also helpful. Their numerous editing changes were very much appreciated. I am particularly grateful to Professor Lyn Ferguson, who continued to have confidence and trust in my abilities. Guidance and availability