An analysis of the motherhood concept in employed women in south Turkey

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine women’s perceptions of motherhood. We carried out this study with 10 midwives and 10 teachers. Two categories – satisfactions and difficulties – and 4 main themes became apparent. Satisfactions were evident in statements where mothers wrote expressions such as, “beautiful and a hard-to-explain feeling” and “full of rewards”. Their difficulties were evident in their description of motherhood as “the most difficult job” and “strain in motherhood role”. Important findings were the differences in the statements by midwives and teachers about the roles of mothers, despite their similar definitions of motherhood. Mothers should support their motherhood needs in a number of ways as suggested in the discussion.