Bilimname

Abstract

This research aims to understand the perceptions of motherhood and religiosity among women living in Ankara and working in various sectors. Throughout history, motherhood has been a central concept in women's biological and social identities. However, the content of this concept varies according to individual experiences and societal norms. Religiosity, as a set of beliefs and values shaping individuals' lives, is a significant factor affecting women's perceptions of motherhood and their professional lives. The study aims to explore how women perceive the interactions between motherhood, professional life, and religiosity.
A qualitative research method was employed, and interviews were conducted with 30 female participants from different sectors and motherhood statuses. The participants were categorized into three groups: biological mothers, potential mothers (young women who have not yet had children), and childless women. The interviews focused on three main themes: motherhood, women and work life, and the relationship between motherhood and religiosity. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and content analysis methods. The diversity of the study group allowed for the evaluation of the results from various perspectives.
Research findings reveal that women's perceptions of motherhood vary significantly. Some participants identified motherhood with love and compassion, while others defined it through sacrifice and responsibility, and some described it as an indescribable feeling. The study shows that the experience of motherhood deeply influences the perception of this concept. Women who are mothers emphasized sacrifice and responsibility, while potential mothers highlighted love and compassion, and childless women expressed an undefined feeling. The concept of "good motherhood" emerged as a figure who meets both the physical and emotional needs of a child, prioritizes emotional well-being, values education, and supports the child’s individuality. In contrast, "bad motherhood" was associated with neglect and lack of compassion. Participants pointed out that, in society, motherhood is simultaneously elevated as a sacred value and viewed as a restrictive role for women.
Women’s views on professional life varied according to their motivations for working. Women who saw work as a means of personal development and self-realization displayed a production-oriented attitude, while working mothers, driven by economic necessity, viewed their jobs as a responsibility to ensure family income. However, both groups experienced challenges in balancing work and motherhood responsibilities. Particularly, women with young children expressed serious difficulties in balancing work and motherhood, emphasizing that guilt was a defining emotion in this process. Some women described work as a process of self-development, while others noted the struggles they faced due to conflicts between motherhood and professional life. Key factors influencing this experience were satisfaction with the working identity, the understanding of motherhood, who takes care of the child in the mother’s absence, and the child's age.
The relationship between motherhood and religiosity varied depending on the participants' individual perceptions of religiosity. Half of the participants believed that there was a strong connection between motherhood and religiosity. This connection was usually focused on the religious education of the child, with mothers taking on the responsibility of shaping and transmitting their children's religious knowledge. The religious education of children was directly linked to the mothers' religious practices and beliefs. However, some participants did not see a connection between motherhood and religiosity and considered these two concepts independently.
A noteworthy finding of the study is that the relationship between motherhood and religiosity is shaped according to women’s definitions of motherhood. Mothers who focused on meeting their children’s physical and emotional needs viewed religiosity as part of this process, considering religious education as one of the essential elements of motherhood. In contrast, women who defined motherhood as an emotional bond approached religiosity as a more personal domain and were more distant regarding their involvement in their children's religious education. A connection was found between how women perceive motherhood and how they conceptualize religiosity. Based on this, four types of religiosity were identified: child-centered religious, mother-centered religious, inconsistent religious, and indifferent religious.