Primary Earners: Lived Experiences of Breadwinner Moms

Abstract

In the Philippines’ culture and tradition, it is customary that men or husbands are the sole providers for the family’s needs. As the world progress, women are accepted in the workforce and have been increasingly common in the society that females now can be accepted as the breadwinners of the family. This research focuses on the experiences of women as breadwinners, the great impact on them as breadwinners, as an individual, in the family, and in career advancement. The researcher uses a phenomenological method to bring out the fore experiences and perceptions of individuals from their perspectives. Results showed four essential elements of female breadwinners’ experiences : (1) decision making control, (2) feeling pressure and worry, (3) feeling guilt and resentment, and (4) career advancement. With these themes, recommendations focused on giving support to these female teaching staff to cope with their daily struggles in life by tapping the Spiritual Uplift Program and Gender and Development of Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST).