The topic of work-life balance has gained much attention in recent years. A focal point
remains the effects of maternal employment on the well-being of women and children, despite shifts
in society towards gender equality. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of mothers
who either had chosen to stay at home after having children or to continue with full-time
employment; and how their decision impacted their lives. This qualitative study, based on the Social
Constructionist paradigm, and Second Order Cybernetics and Feminist Theories, included interviews
with four full-time employed and four stay-at-home South African mothers. The data were analysed
using hermeneutic analysis. The findings suggest that the participants’ tensions regarding
motherhood and employment were strongly influenced by structural obstacles at work and at home,
interpersonal relationships with other mothers, as well as intrapersonal experiences. Breastfeeding
was identified as a prominent topic within the various themes.
Eminyakeni yamuva nje ukulinganisela phakathi komsebenzi nokuphila kwasekhaya kube
undabamlonyeni. Indaba eseqhulwini kuseyiwo umthelela wokusebenza komama
enhlalakahleni yabesimane nezingane, yize sekube nezinguquko emphakathini endabeni
yokulingana kobulili. Inhloso yalolu cwaningo kwakuwukuhlola lokho okwehlele omama
abakhethe ukuhlala ekhaya ngemva kokuzalwa kwezingane noma abaqhubeka besebenza
isikhathi esigcwele; nokuthi isinqumo sabo sibe namuphi umthelela ekuphileni kwabo. Lolu
cwaningo olwalubheka umnyombo, olusekelwe embonweni weNhlanganyelo Yomphakathi,
kanye ne-Cybernetics Yohlelo Lwesibili Nemibono Yabalweli Besifazane, lwalubandakanya
izingxoxombuzo nomama abane baseNingizimu Afrika abasebenza isikhathi esigcwele kanye
nabanye abane abahlala ekhaya. Ulwazi lwahlaziywa kusetshenziswa uhlaziyo
lokucubungula okulotshiwe. Okwatholakala kubonisa ukuthi izinto ezaziyingqinamba
kubabambiqhaza ngokuphathelene nokuba umama nokusebenza zazilawulwa kakhulu
yizithiyo zesikhundla emsebenzini nasekhaya, ubudlelwano nabanye omama, kanye nalokho
ababhekana nakho uma bezihlola ekujuleni. Ukuncelisa ibele kwakubhekwa njengesihloko
esiqavile phakathi kwalezo zihloko ezinhlobonhlobo.
Die kwessie van ‘n werk-lewe balans geniet die afgelope paar jaar baie aandag. 'n Brandpunt
in die literatuur is steeds die gevolge van ma’s se indiensneming op die welstand van vroue
en kinders, ondanks verskuiwings in die samelewing ten opsigte van geslagsgelykheid. Die
doel van hierdie studie was om die ervarings van vroue te ondersoek wat óf kies om tuis te
bly, óf om voltyds te bly werk wanneer hulle kinders kry; en hoe die besluit hul lewens
beïnvloed. Die kwalitatiewe studie, gebaseer op ‘n sosiaal-konstruksionistiese uitgangspunt,
en ekosistemiese en feministiese teorieë, het onderhoude met vier voltydse werknemers en
vier tuisbly ma’s in Suid-Afrika ingesluit. Die data is ondersoek met behulp van
hermeneutiese analise. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat die deelnemers se spanning rakende.
