The ‘maternal body’ and work experiences of working mothers: a global south perspective

Abstract

This thesis is a PhD ‘with publication’ structured into two research papers under the unifying theme of the maternal body and work. The first empirical paper explores how mothers in low-income jobs navigate their maternal body and work experiences in Nigerian work settings. The second empirical paper examines how different institutional logics influence maternal body experiences within two selected case study organisations in Nigeria, highlighting the complexities and variances in the experiences influenced by organisational policies, cultural norms, and institutional frameworks and offering practical insights into the role of organisations in shaping maternal body experiences at work.
The thesis is foregrounded in the life course theory and institutional logics theory. The first empirical paper adopts the life course perspective to explore how different stages and transitions, such as pregnancy and motherhood, impact women's career trajectories and work experiences. The second empirical paper, which adopts the institutional logics theory, on the other hand, examined the broader societal, cultural, and organisational structures that shape and constrain the experiences of working mothers, given the differing logics that they embody. Both frameworks collectively shed light on how institutional norms, values, and practices influence the perception of the maternal body within Nigerian workplaces.

The findings from this qualitative methodology study detail the lived experiences gathered from a total of 52 participants and provide valuable insights into how organisations can foster employer knowledge of maternity regulations, promote flexible working practices, and advance supportive organisational cultures. The thesis contributes empirically to the body of knowledge by focusing on the under-researched area of the maternal body and work from a Global South perspective. Further, the integrative theoretical frameworks of life course perspective and institutional logics theory extend and enrich our understanding of the maternal body and work and presents explanations for the experiences of the maternal body beyond what is already discussed in the literature. The life course perspective reveals how interconnected events and transitions, shaped by economic burdens and structural constraints, influence the maternal body and work experiences of low-income mothers in Nigeria, causing them to internalise and normalise unfavourable experiences, which further reinforces inequalities and societal expectations. However, despite these constraints, the framework further emphasises that personal agency enables mothers to navigate challenges, exercise strategic choices, and pursue positive outcomes, thus shaping their own life trajectories given their disadvantages. The study further recognises the role of support networks in mitigating these negative experiences, suggesting that individual strategies such as seeking informal spousal support, self-advocacy and building resilience can help reduce the adverse effects on working mothers. By examining the transitions and trajectories of these women, the study sheds light on the broader societal dynamics influencing their lives. The application of the institutional logics theory also revealed a conflicting interplay between the societal ideals of motherhood, organisational practices and structures, and the pivotal role of line managers, reflecting the impact the maternal body experiences of working mothers. The study offers practical implications for organisations, policymakers and advocacy groups as the empirical findings can serve as a resource for developing policies that address the specific needs of working mothers, ensuring a more inclusive and supportive work environment. This research, thus, addresses immediate knowledge gaps and lays the foundation for future studies in the maternal body scholarship, contributing to the academic discourse in management studies, sociology, gender studies, human resources management and labour relations.

Thesis embargoed until 31st July 2028.

Date of Award	Jul 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Supervisor	Denise Currie (Supervisor) & Heike Schroeder-Altmann (Supervisor)