8
Chapter 7
Exploring the social biographical patterns of Dutch mothers’
diverse gender and work attitudes
163
7.1
Introduction 163
7.2
Macro background: the specific case of the Netherlands
164
7.3
Socialization theory
165
7.4
Primary socialization
166
7.5
Secondary socialization
168
7.6
Research method
170
Research group
172
Interview questions
172
Interview analysis
173
7.7
Findings 174
7.8
Conclusions 181
Chapter 8
Synthesis: overview and discussion
185
8.1
Introduction 185
8.2
A mother’s labour market behaviour
is based on her preferred
number of work hours
188
8.3
A mother’s preferred number of work hours is influenced by her
general gender values and personal gender and work attitudes 190
Personal gender attitudes and general gender values
190
Personal work attitudes
193
8.4
A mother’s general gender values and personal gender and
work attitudes are influenced by parental socialization during
childhood 196
8.5
A mother endorses more egalitarian values and attitudes if
she has perceived the professional and career support of
significant others
199
Teachers
200
Partners
201
People at work
202
Peers
202
8.6
Conclusions 203
The shared and personal social structures of mothers’
embedded employment choices
203
Epilogue
207
1
The impact of social institutions on mothers’ employment
choices 207
2
Hierarchical layers within socialization
208
3
Considerations on research based on memories
209
4
Engendered micro-interactional practices
209
5
Collective memories and collectiveness
210
6
Political relevance
211
9
Nederlandse samenvatting (Dutch Summary): Ingebedde keuzes,
onzichtbare beperkingen
213
Introduction 213
1
De feitelijke arbeidsparticipatie
van een moeder is gebaseerd
op het aantal uren dat ze wil werken
217
2
Het gewenste aantal werkuren van een moeder wordt beïnvloed
door haar algemene rolopvatting en persoonlijke gender- en
arbeidsattitudes 218
Persoonlijke gender attitudes en algemene rolopvatting
219
Persoonlijke arbeidsattitudes
221
3
Moeders algemene rolopvattingen en gender- en arbeidsattitudes
zijn beïnvloed door ouderlijke socialisatie tijdens de kindertijd 223
4
Een moeder onderschrijft meer egalitaire rolopvattingen en
attitudes wanneer ze eerder professionele en carrière-
ondersteuning heeft ervaren van significante anderen
225
Docenten
226
Partners
226
Mensen op het werk
227
Peers
228
Conclusies 228
Toekomstig onderzoek
230
Hiërarchische lagen binnen socialisatie
230
Rolpatroonbevestigende micro-interactionele praktijken
230
Politieke relevantie
231
References
235
Appendix 1
Overview of respondents
251
Appendix 2
Outcomes of the underlying (logistic and linear)
regression analyses and bilateral correlations of
variables: Chapter 4
255
Appendix 3
Outcomes of the underlying (linear and nominal) regression
analyses General Gender Values and Ideal family life:
Chapter 5
259
13
Acknowledgements
One of the key findings of this research is that the support, trust and motivation of
other people towards fulfilling one’s full potential at work are very important in
one’s life. I would definitely not have been able to start or finish this research on
my own. Throughout my life there have been many people who,
directly or
indirectly, have enabled me to complete this thesis.
Firstly, I am so lucky to be able to mention my parents. When I was seven
years old, my mother started to study in order to obtain a university degree. At the
same time she also took up paid work and by doing this she showed me how to
combine motherhood, work and education in a satisfying (though admittedly
often exhausting) way. I am grateful to her too because she appeared so
persistent. She was able to convince my teachers at secondary school that if I
started doing my homework, it would not be necessary to downgrade me to a
lower educational level. Later, when I had almost
completed high school, I had a
conversation with my father, who was always in the mood for a chat about the
education and future professions of his daughters. I recall that I had doubts about
the correct continuation course – just like so many of the mothers I interviewed in
this book. My father, who is imbued with enthusiasm about practically
everything, and who is especially devoted to professional life, pondered my
choice for some time, and then came back with the suggestion that sociology
might be a good choice for me. Both of my parents set a vivid example of how to
enjoy work, while transmitting the mental code that ‘work
is valuable and should
be fun’. I internalised this, and I know my dear sisters did too.
Secondly, I want to mention the supervisor of my master-thesis, Kees Schuyt.
At my graduation he encouraged me to continue with scientific research, and he
helped me to write a PhD-proposal. I didn’t succeed in receiving a grant then, but
his trust and reinforcement were very important to me. I am doubly thankful to
him, because 15 years later we met again at a conference, and when I explained
about my enduring desire to start a doctorate study, he pointed me in the
direction
of Paul de Beer.
For many reasons I am especially indebted to Paul. Firstly because he agreed
to be my supervisor, even though my initial ideas about the research were
undeniably very vague. He helped me to structure my research plans, showed me
relevant theories and how to work with statistics. I am equally thankful to my
second supervisor Christien Brinkgreve and the way she guided and supported
me. Both supervisors were always constructive and precise in their comments on
my work. By working with them separately on the quantitative and qualitative