Maternity Experiences of Executive Women from Metropolitan Lima: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Objective. To explore the maternity experience of executive women in Lima Metropolitana. Methodology. The study has a phenomenological qualitative approach which allows to deepen how women with high business positions try to achieve balance between work and family life. There were 7 participants, and the data was obtained through recorded semi-structured interviews, with the prior consent of the mothers. Results. The data analysis was analyzed under the phenomenological design, which determined that the motherhood experience of these women is characterized by the presence of feelings of guilt along with unconditional love towards their family and children. Likewise, the mothers in this study have auxiliary agents that allow them to harmonize work and family. On the one hand, their partners, who maintain an active role in the upbringing of children and domestic work; on the other hand, the external support of nannies, who are usually hired to carry out tasks traditionally assigned to women. In turn, it was determined that there are contextual characteristics that facilitate the balance between family life and work, such as, for example, that their work centers have flexible policies, allowing them a certain freedom over the execution and distribution of their time. Conclusions. For a more equitable professional development of women, a more equitable distribution of responsibilities is required. Just as work centers increasingly have more measures to reconcile motherhood with work.