Maternal employment and family responsibilities: the perspectives of mothers of children with intellectual disabilities

Over recent decades, there has been a substantial increase in the proportio n of women in the workforce with dependent children. However, this trend is not evident for mothers of children with disabilities. Their employment le vels are greatly reduced. The present paper examines the nature of the rest rictions which affect the employment participation of these mothers and exp lores the meaning work has for them. The data presented in this paper were derived from qualitative interviews with 18 mothers of children with disabi lities aged between 5 and 15 years. These mothers found employment difficul t. They encountered unusual time demands, and a lack of adequate and afford able child care. Furthermore, they felt that their employment opportunities were restricted by attitudes prevalent in society concerning appropriate r oles for women, especially mothers of children with disabilities. The lack of opportunities to engage in employment led, in varying degrees, to feelin gs of isolation, a lack of fulfilment and low self-esteem. The mothers felt that they were on the periphery of society with little release from the pr essures of caring. Mothers who had part-time jobs often did poorly paid wor k of low status, thereby encountering few opportunities to use their skills and abilities to the full. Those who attempted a full-time job experienced stress from the dual demands of home and work, and from a fear that they w ere failing as mothers. The present paper highlights areas which require at tention to improve the employment experience of these mothers.