COLLEGE-STUDENTS PERCEPTIONS OF MOTHERS - EFFECTS OF MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT CHILD-REARING PATTERN AND MOTIVE FOR EMPLOYMENT

This study examined primarily middle-class Caucasian college students' (n = 460) perceptions of mothers as a function of their employment-ch ild-rearing pattern (continuous employment following 6 weeks of matern ity leave, interrupted employment until the child was in first grade, or discontinued employment after the child's birth) and employment mot ive (fulfillment, financial, or unstated). Results showed that continu ously employed compared to other mothers were perceived as less commun al and were less positively evaluated Further, continuously employed m others were seen as less communal if their employment was for fulfillm ent rather than financial necessity. Inferences about the mother's per ceived commitment to the maternal role help explain some of the commun ality findings, and perceived maternal role commitment and communality explain the evaluation findings. Discussion focuses on college studen ts' views of normative roles and characteristics for women.