The "shoulds" of multiple-role women : exploring the connection between expectations about self and emotional stress when roles conflict
| dc.contributor.author | Bryant, Susan Mary | en_US |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-08-13T00:06:30Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-08-13T00:06:30Z | |
| dc.date.copyright | 1988 | en_US |
| dc.date.issued | 1988 | |
| dc.degree.department | Department of Psychological Foundations in Education | |
| dc.degree.department | Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies | |
| dc.degree.level | Master of Arts M.A. | en |
| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to investigate ways in which multiple-role women's expectations of themselves are associated with the emotional stress they experience when their roles conflict. Individual, in-depth interviews, exploring self-expectations and role conflict experiences, were conducted with three multiple-role women, mothers who were also full time students. Supported by social role theory using a Symbolic Interactionist perspective, interview transcripts were analyzed and the results presented in two stages. First, a subjective profile of each participant's perceptions of her roles, expectations and conflict was compiled to convey a personalized account of the internal conflicts of multiple role women. Second, common themes reflecting similarities in the women's perceptions and experiences were considered in terms of inner processes connecting their self-expectations and role conflict stress. The women had demanding, incompatible maternal and academic self-expectations. They expected to function at high performance levels in both roles, simultaneously, and were reluctant to compromise on these standards. Performing the roles separately, at different times and places, prevented overt competition between the women's role expectations. When roles conflicted, however, role performances overlapped and each system of role expectations demanded attention at the same time. To maintain simultaneous participation in both roles, conflicting expectations had to be ranked, according to current role saliency, and acted upon sequentially. Inevitably some important role expectations were sacrificed for the sake of fulfilling others. This situation created an uncomfortable, and emotionally stressful, discrepancy between the way the women expected to perform and the way they were able to perform their dual roles. The role expectations relegated to second place continued to demand immediate attention and to exert considerable emotional pressure towards meeting these demands. Student role expectations were normally expected to acquiesce to mothering responsibilities but, under pressure of exams and impending assignments, the women's frustration and anger signalled that a point of intolerance with this secondary position had been reached. It was difficult for the women to continue to behave contrary to their own academic needs. Mothering role expectations were even more inflexible. They were expected to assume priority over expectations associated with other roles and were immediately intolerant of a lesser status. When the women perceived themselves as not living up to their maternal expectations they felt considerable guilt and regarded their behaviour as highly inappropriate and potentially harmful to their children. Role conflict, therefore, consisted of a series of uncomfortable behavioural compromises and unfulfilled role expectations which resulted in an emotionally stressful situation for the women. An area not directly explored in this study was the significance to the women of unfulfilled or compromised role expectations. On the basis of the women's statements, and supported by social role theories, the self-concept was speculated to be implicated in the formation and maintenance of high role expectations and affected by negative evaluations of role performances. In view of the diminished sense of self perceived by the women in this study during and after role conflict situations, recommendations were made for further research on this issue. Implications from this study were included in the presentation of a counselling approach outlining specific steps regarding the exploration of self expectations and also general guidelines addressing the needs of multiple-role women. | |
| dc.format.extent | 94 pages | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1828/17113 | |
| dc.rights | Available to the World Wide Web | en_US |
| dc.title | The "shoulds" of multiple-role women : exploring the connection between expectations about self and emotional stress when roles conflict | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
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