‘It is hard for mums to put themselves first’: How mothers diagnosed with breast cancer manage the sociological boundaries between paid work, family and caring for the self

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) Vol. 117; pp. 96 - 106
• Main Author: Mackenzie, Catherine Ruth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2014; Elsevier; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Australia; Biological and medical sciences; Boundary theory; Breast Cancer; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Cancer; Cancer survivorship; Care work; Children; Cooperation; Empathy; Employment; Family; Family Work Relationship; Female; Females; Feminism; Gender; Gender identity; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Health care; Humans; Identity; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Mother-Child Relations - psychology; Mothers; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); Participation; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Qualitative; Qualitative Research; Responsibilities; Return to work; Sex Factors; Social sciences; Tumors; Well Being; Women's Health; Workforce; Workload; Australia; Oceania; Care work; Breast cancer; Gender; Australia; Qualitative; Boundary theory; Cancer survivorship; Return to work; Breast disease; Theory; Sex; Self; Mother; Family environment; Work; Diagnosis; Mammary gland; Social aspect; Human; Family study; Malignant tumor; Care; Back to work; Mammary gland diseases; Social medicine; Cancer

This paper aims to increase understanding of how mothers diagnosed with breast cancer while in the paid workforce experience and manage their multiple demands of taking care of themselves, their children and their paid work. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 women who were...