Non-entry-level Women Working in Housing: Challenges and Supports for Motherhood

WORKING IN RESIDENTIAL LIFE WHILE RAISING CHILDREN can create role conflict for women as they attempt to balance two highly demanding responsibilities. This qualitative study explored how mothers working in residence life described the important challenges, supports, and potential gains associated with their roles. These women struggle to achieve a balance between work and personal lives, facing the possibility of burnout and the expectation that they should be available at all times. Using semi-structured interviews with 10 women currently raising children while working in residence life, we identified several themes related to role conflict and the institutional factors and people who can serve as valuable supports: supervisors, colleagues, friend and family, and partners and spouses. In order to strengthen the support offered to working mothers, residence life departments can promote flexible policies and procedures and guarantee that supervisors are transparent about the workload expected of their employees.