THE GRADUATE WOMEN IN SINGAPORE : PERCEPTIONS OF CAREER AND MOTHERHOOD

Abstract

The female labour force participation rate has risen continuously over the years. Not only are married women more likely to be in the labour force, they are also having fewer 'interruptions' in their careers by returning to work soon after childbirth or when their children are still young. Although working married mothers have become an increasing phenomenon, work for women, especially mothers, remain fraught with difficulties. As a result, some women who would prefer to work are unable to do so. This academic exercise is an exploratory attempt to examine how graduate women in Singapore make decisions about labour force participation. This study investigates why some married graduate mothers elect to be employed, while other married graduate mothers remain out of the labour force. Along with this, focus with also be on how working mothers cope with their multiple roles. It is hoped that the findings in this study will contribute in some way to reconciling the seemingly conflicting demands of career and motherhood.