Os Impactos do Exercício da Maternidade na Vida Profissional

Abstract

This article discusses the impacts of motherhood on women’s professional lives, considering the social, cultural, and subjective dimensions that shape this relationship. It is based on the understanding that, although there have been advances in women’s participation in the labor market, evidenced by the increasing number of female-headed households, structural inequalities persist and are intensified by motherhood. Drawing on a theoretical review and critical analysis, the study examines how work, a fundamental space for identity construction and social integration, still operates as an environment that inadequately accommodates maternal specificities. Concepts such as maternal guilt, the double burden, and the contradictory demands placed on women are addressed, highlighting how they are expected to simultaneously fulfill the roles of the ideal mother and the productive professional. The findings indicate that motherhood remains a marker of inequality in the labor market, reinforcing wage disparities, limiting career advancement, and increasing emotional overload. It is concluded that labor and social structures must be rethought, promoting public policies and institutional practices that foster gender equity and acknowledge the demands of motherhood.