Between Family and Occupation : An Analysis of the Decision Process for Married Women Becoming Full-time Housewives .

• Main Authors: Pan Yen Hsiu, 潘彥秀
• Other Authors: 趙文滔 博士
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/12843428225969825128

碩士 === 中國文化大學 === 心理輔導研究所 === 98 === Inspired by the researcher's own personal experience, this research aims to explore the decision-making process of choosing between having a family and/or a career of married women who finally chose to become full-time housewives. With Purposive sampling, six full-time wives were included using a semi-structured in-depth interview method. Qualitative analysis was used, and twelve factors that influenced their choices were identified. They are: (1) the perception of the roles their mothers played as a career woman and a housewife, (2) their work experience or belief, (3) the experience interacting with the husband’s family, (4) the experience of living in a big family, (5) support from the husband, (6) the marital relationship, (7) the belief of parenting their children own their own, (8) coping with the financial concerns, (9) their perceptions of social stereotypes against housewives, (10) their awareness of the transition of social concepts toward the role: “Housewife is a job, too!” , (11) their own degree of identification to the role of being housewives, (12) pivotal events and the timing of their decision-making. In line with Life-Course theory, this study also noticed the interplay of four aspects (agency, time and place, timing, link of lives) in the decision-making process of these interviewees. Through each of the interviewees’ narratives, this study tried to present the process and the context in which the twelve factors emerged and operated interdependently. This study found that all of the interviewees tended to stereotype the role of being a housewife and had concerns about it; however, they took action independently finding coping strategies and confronting their challenges. Their belief changed after becoming a housewife. They did not consider a housewife as a job in the past, but confirmed their own values after becoming one and expected others’ reconfirmations. Some suggestions were proposed for related governmental offices, housewives, educators, counselors, helping professionals, and researchers.