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The Maternity Journey in an Organisational Context: A Case Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2012

Beth M. Costa ,
Arlene Walker ,
Lucy Zinkiewicz ,
Hannah Berman ,
Amy Cartledge  and
Susan Nheng
Beth M. Costa*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Australia
Arlene Walker
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Australia
Lucy Zinkiewicz
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Australia
Hannah Berman
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Australia
Amy Cartledge
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Australia
Susan Nheng
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Australia
*
address for correspondence: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, Geelong VIC 3217, Australia. Email: beth.costa@deakin.edu.au
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Abstract

The transition to motherhood is a significant life event impacting on all spheres of a woman's life. In an organisational context, changes to women's relationships with their employer and to their social identity occur as they adjust to their new role. A case study was undertaken to describe and compare the workplace experiences of three female employees from one health organisation who were either preparing to commence, currently on or recently returned to work from maternity leave. At all stages of the maternity journey, women expected flexibility from their employer in negotiating their return to work and managing parenting responsibilities. Women's obligations to their employer included being open about their capacity to work and parenting situations which may interfere with their work, as well as maintaining their work performance. Within a supportive work environment that included a shared identity with managers who were also mothers, women's social identity as a worker was not significantly threatened and did not change. Social identity change may be most apparent during the transition to first-time motherhood.

Keywords

maternal transitionemploymentpsychological contractsocial identity change
Type
Articles
Information
The Australasian Journal of Organisational Psychology , Volume 5 , December 2012 , pp. 43 - 49
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2012

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