Year: 2020
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Social networks provide several benefits related to ascension and success at work. In this dissertation, I investigate the impact of motherhood and fatherhood on the characteristics of two types of social relationships: instrumental relationships, which provide job-related inputs required for job performance and career advancement; and expressive relationships, which provide emotional support and friendship that support professionals in the workplace. I take the position that relative to the image of an ideal worker, negative implications of motherhood and positive implications of fatherhood have different impacts on the formation and maintenance of social relationships. Specifically, I propose that fathers can use their parenthood as a source of similarity distinctly from mothers, resulting in different effects on gender homophily, relationship closeness, frequency of contact, multiplexity, the number of internal and external ties, and the perceived resources gained. I investigated this hypothesis with two studies—a network survey and qualitative study of lawyers working at large law firms. The results did not support any effects of fatherhood on instrumental and expressive relationships. Instead, I found an effect of motherhood on expressive relationships with other mothers supported by qualitative evidence of mothers forming closer connections with other mothers and relying on them for instrumental advice and expressive support to navigate being a working professional mother. Despite signaling strong work commitment, the challenges of dealing with persistent stereotypes of conflict between the ideal mother and ideal worker images described by mothers appeared to translate into a higher need for such homophilous expressive support.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Hadiya Roderique
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Gender equality
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3156947354