Like I am the kind of a bad mom who wanted to go back to work and he is the most fantastic dad who wants to stay at home : A Qualitative Study on How Common Attitudes Affect Mothers’ Well-being in the Finnish Society
Roering, Satu-Maria (2021)
Roering, Satu-Maria
2021
Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2021122162908
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2021122162908
Tiivistelmä
The Finnish society is often described as a society where gender equality is on a high level. However, through these kinds of assumptions, the problems regarding, for example, gender equality and parenting often remain hidden. Social exclusion is a process of being unable to fully participate in the society. This thesis seeks to answer the question what characterizes Finnish mothers’ experiences of social exclusion and how possible negative attitudes affect mothers’ well-being in the Finnish society. By using social exclusion theory, this thesis seeks to shed light on how mothers in Finland are in a less beneficial position in, for example, the labor market and how the gender pay gap creates a loop where mothers find it difficult to escape their excluded position, as they are usually the parent who takes the majority of the parental leave. Moreover, the male breadwinner attitude in Finnish society still exists.
The methodology used for the thesis is narrative methodology and analysis. Five Finnish mothers have been interviewed for the thesis and the main focus has been on their experiences regarding the labor market, gender equality and attitudes about motherhood. This thesis highlights some core issues regarding motherhood and gender equality in Finland. These core issues reside in labor market attitudes, work division in relationships and the male breadwinner attitude in general. The major argument in this thesis is that mothers are discriminated against in the labor market and common attitudes regarding gender equality and motherhood establish feelings of frustration and sadness in the mothers. The gender pay gap in Finland creates a loop where women take most of the parental leave and are, therefore, left behind in salary development. Moreover, the attitude persistent today is that women have the main responsibility for the children and for taking care of the home. Traditional gender roles are still persistent in the Finnish society.
The methodology used for the thesis is narrative methodology and analysis. Five Finnish mothers have been interviewed for the thesis and the main focus has been on their experiences regarding the labor market, gender equality and attitudes about motherhood. This thesis highlights some core issues regarding motherhood and gender equality in Finland. These core issues reside in labor market attitudes, work division in relationships and the male breadwinner attitude in general. The major argument in this thesis is that mothers are discriminated against in the labor market and common attitudes regarding gender equality and motherhood establish feelings of frustration and sadness in the mothers. The gender pay gap in Finland creates a loop where women take most of the parental leave and are, therefore, left behind in salary development. Moreover, the attitude persistent today is that women have the main responsibility for the children and for taking care of the home. Traditional gender roles are still persistent in the Finnish society.