Balance between work and family life: Middle class working mothers in Turkey

Abstract

This article analyzes strategies developed by middle class mothers to establish balance between theirwork and care responsiblities in Turkey where no extensive public services are available and childcare issocially and culturally constructed as women’s sole duty with a limited male involvement. The fieldworkof the study is based on accounts of in-depth interviews conducted with nineteen working middle classmothers in the capital city of Turkey, Ankara. Gender inequality results in experiencing work and familyconflict heavily. Middle class women’s care responsibilities come into conflict with their work and theirstrategies mostly depends on profession, working place, colleagues, and employer/manager.