Author: Yuhan Ma
Ma, Yuhan, 2024 Living in the cultural gaps of maternal employment - Chinese mothers’ employment opportunities in Australia, Flinders University, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
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This thesis presents a historical perspective on the issue of first-generation Chinese immigrant mothers' employment in Australia and differences between China and Australia. A literature review of academic literature has revealed many studies in recent years considering the declining employment rate of Chinese immigrant mothers. However, most studies focus on immigrant mothers' identity or employment conditions, or the implications of potential racial discrimination, while ignoring the cultural and historical background which supports a mother's employment in Australian society.
This thesis reveals that the declining employment rate of Chinese immigrant mothers may be a result of cultural differences in the support provided to new mothers. Specifically, Chinese women are emigrating from a culture that actively supports and emphasises women's employment to the Australian culture that emphasises the importance of women spending more time with their children after childbirth provides inadequate support to women seeking employment after childbirth.
This thesis also focuses on the differences in cultural expectation between Australia and China. It was found that becoming a 'stay at home mother' or choosing 'part-time work' after giving birth is contrary to most Chinese mothers' expectations of 'good motherhood' practices. Further, this thesis also considers Chinese mother’s adaptations to the cultural conflicts faced after immigration to Australia.
Keywords: Chinese Immigrant Mothers, Cross-cultural Differences in Parenting Between China and Australia, Employment after Childbirth among Chinese Immigrant Women
Subject: Women's Studies thesis
Thesis type: Masters
Completed: 2024
School: College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Supervisor: Barbara Baird