Degree

BS (Social Sciences & Liberal Arts)

Faculty / School

School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS)

Department

Department of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts

Date of Award

Spring 2022

Date of Submission

2022-08-15

Advisor

Maria Haqqani, Visiting Faculty, Department of Social Sciences

Project Type

SSLA Culminating Experience

Access Type

Restricted Access

Abstract

This study’s research question was to explore and understand how growing up in a patriarchal society shaped Millennial and Gen Z women’s experiences and parental decisions as mothers, as well as how motherhood impacted their life with regards to their health, career, and relationships. Additionally, this thesis also investigates behaviors of Millennial and Gen Z men as fathers and partners to their wives, from their wives’ perspectives. Participants were recruited through posts made on social media and through personal contacts. One recurring themes in the thesis was the rejection of societal, cultural and gender normative values by the Millennial and Gen Z women for their children. The research also showed how women have moved away from these norms, but most have not and continue to believe in gender-roles even in a two-income household. The thesis also elaborated on how pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare manifests into the bodies as trauma and women hesitate from seeking help to deal with their trauma. Research reiterates that woman having social support from their spouses and in-laws can have a huge impact on their recovery with the difference of having severe PPD or no PPD. Lastly, three independent themes were highlighted: family systems have an impact on parenting styles, having children sometimes negatively affects the parents’ relationship and women face a ‘motherhood penalty’ in their careers where they lose out on wages, promotions, hiring and evaluations.

Pages

71

Download

The full text of this document is only accessible to authorized users.

Share

COinS