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Title Nurses as working mothers and their social reproductive roles: An exploratory study of nurses in Windhoek, Namibia
Full text http://hdl.handle.net/11070/3149
Date 2021
Author(s) Kojwang, Risper Auma
Abstract A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Sociology) - This study explored the extension of female reproductive roles into the nursing profession. The deficit of information in Namibia pertaining to the convergence of dual reproductive and productive roles and linkages to the nursing profession deemed it essential to justify an exploration into such duality of roles. This study was a qualitative study with data being collected through in-depth interviews with female nurses who identified as working mothers. A phenomenological approach to Narrative Research Methodology was used. The main aim of this approach was to seek in-depth data concerning how nurses perceive their dual roles in production and reproduction. A purposive sampling technique was used to identify the research participants. The data gathered during the course of in-depth interviewing was analysed manually through the identification and development of relevant conceptual themes. Linkages between nurturing roles and financial independence, balancing reproductive and productive roles, the creation of gender balances based on dual roles and gender power relations as a result of paid productive Labour outside the home were at the helm of this study. There was present, a balancing of familial responsibilities associated with gender-based stereotypes as well as the existence of female nursing practice within a gender-based hierarchy. Findings indicated that nursing is viewed as a selfless profession requiring a commitment to care. The socialization of females into stereotypical roles was found to take place during the formative years of childhood. There was an agreement in relation to the fact that characteristics that are devoid of compassion and commitment to care disqualify one from successful nursing. Therefore patient-centred care and ascriptions to intensive mothering ideologies in nursing were discovered to be at the helm of the feminization of caring in the profession.
Language en
Publisher University of Namibia
Type of publication Thesis
Repository Windhoek - University of Namibia
Added to C-A: 2022-05-09;09:59:57