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Abstract LAMONICA, LAURA TRIPP. Becoming A Abstract LAMONICA, LAURA TRIPP. Becoming a Worker-Mother: Understanding the Transition. (Under the direction of Dr. Julia Storberg-Walker.) There has been a dramatic increase in the number of women who both work and mother into the workforce in recent years. The patriarchal structure of the typical U.S. organization is based on rational-economic models and the “economic man” model of worker. This structure systematically disadvantages women who work and mother. The HRD function within organizations can feed the patriarchal status quo of the organizations within which it exists by adopting the rational decision making model to formulate and develop policies that require performance at all costs. There are few studies that look specifically at women’s transitions in becoming worker-mothers. Literature typically has focused on perceptions of workplace policies and programs designed to assist work-life balance and of those who use those programs. The purpose of this exploratory, grounded narrative inquiry is to examine the experiences of primiparous (pregnant for the first time) women as they negotiate pregnancy and exit of and planned re-entry to the workplace around the birth of a first child. The conceptual framework for the study is radical feminist theory. The framework has at its core a belief in patriarchy as the basic system of power on which all human relationships are structured and arranged. Male oppression and dominance are recognized as the most fundamental form of inequality, superseding and preceding both classism and racism. Radical feminism recognizes that only the elimination of patriarchal structures will end the oppression of women. Five women, pregnant for the first time and working in very different contexts, shared their experiences as they navigated pregnancy, birth, maternity leave, and a return to work. Data analysis was based on the work of Mishler (1986) and Hatch (2002). The study found that the co-researchers exhibited little to no awareness of the impact of the patriarchal structure of the workplace on their experiences and decisions. The dominant performance orientation of HRD and organizations permeated not only these women’s working lives, but their personal lives as well, impacting their ability to enjoy and value their maternal role. Further, the patriarchal structure of the workplace increased the risk that women who encountered physical complications during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum would be forced to leave the workforce. The radical feminist framework of the study is limited in its ability to account for the dissonance between women who make different choices regarding work and mothering. The study findings have important implications for HRD, including a need to open HRD to critique, question the masculinist structures of work and the way that HRD supports that structure, and reduce or replace HRD’s dominant performance orientation. Becoming a Worker-Mother: Understanding the Transition by Laura Tripp LaMonica A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Adult and Higher Education Raleigh, North Carolina 2010 APPROVED BY: ______________________________ ______________________________ Dr. Mary Wyer Dr. James Bartlett, II ______________________________ ______________________________ Dr. Julia Storberg-Walker Dr. Diane Chapman Chair of Advisory Committee ii Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my husband, Joal, and my babies, Ava, and Maggie, who sacrificed so much for me. I love you. iii Biography Laura LaMonica has been a training professional since 1994. She holds a B.A. degree in Mathematics and Psychology from East Carolina University and a M.Ed. degree in Training and Development from North Carolina State University. Laura is employed as an Instructional Designer with D.P. Associates, Inc., a training and service support firm. Her office provides training support to VMAT-203, the AV-8B Harrier pilot training squadron aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC. Currently, Laura resides in Stella, North Carolina, with her husband Joal and their two children, Avariella and Magnolia. iv Acknowledgements My first thanks must go to my family—Joal, Ava, and Maggie—for tolerating my frequent absences, absentminded distraction, and endless obligation as I navigated this very long road. Your patience, love, and support has meant more than you will ever know. I am grateful to my advisory committee, chair Dr. Julia Storberg-Walker, Dr. Diane Chapman, Dr. James Bartlett, Dr. Mary Wyer, and for too short a while, Dr. Colleen Aalsburg-Wiessner. I appreciate your time, support, critical feedback, and encouragement along the way. I am a better researcher because of you. A special thanks to two faculty members, Dr. Valerie-Lee Chapman and Dr. Colleen Aalsburg-Wiessner, for inspiring me to do this work. You were two of the most courageous, intelligent, elegant, and gracious women I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. I miss you both deeply and owe my perseverance to your example. I am thankful for the ongoing support and cheers from friends and family. Robin, I thank you for being my running partner / therapist / sounding board / best friend during this process. You’re much smarter than I and I am so grateful for your ears, feedback, and support. Mom, Bill, and Kevin, your words of encouragement have been tremendous. Shelly, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for stepping up and taking care of my children in my time of critical need. I could not have finished this effort without your help. Ed and Erin, your unyielding faith and applause have been invaluable. To my supervisor Greg, your graciousness and understanding is appreciated. v My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the five lovely women with whom I share this work. Sydney, Suzannah, Monicquea, Amber, and Carrie, you are warriors and I am blessed to know you. It’s been a wonder and a privilege. My deepest thanks go to God. “I will give You thanks, for You answered me, You have become my salvation.” Psalm 118:21. vi Table of Contents List of Figures ......................................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1: Introduction .............................................................................................................1 Problem Statement ...............................................................................................................11 Purpose .................................................................................................................................11 Research Questions ..............................................................................................................12 Significance of the Study .....................................................................................................13 Conceptual Framework ........................................................................................................16 My Story ..............................................................................................................................18 Chapter 2: Literature Review ..................................................................................................23 The Women’s Movement and Feminist Theory ..................................................................25 First-wave feminism. ...................................................................................................... 27 Second-wave feminism. .................................................................................................. 30 Third-wave feminism. ..................................................................................................... 57 Becoming a Mother..............................................................................................................58 Women, Childbirth, and Work .............................................................................................60 Pregnancy and work. ....................................................................................................... 60 Maternal decisions and returning to work. ..................................................................... 64 vii Child rearing and work-family balance. ......................................................................... 68 Organizations and Mothers ..................................................................................................73 Organizational responses. ............................................................................................... 74 Moving beyond policies. ................................................................................................. 79 The Role of Human Resource Development (HRD) ...........................................................85 The performance paradigm and the need for critical HRD. ............................................ 86 Theoretical foundations of HRD and economic theory. ................................................. 89 Chapter 3: Methodology .........................................................................................................94 Qualitative Research ............................................................................................................94 Feminist Narrative Inquiry ...................................................................................................96 Research Design .................................................................................................................102
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