Maternal role of women in clerical jobs in southern Brazil: Stress and satisfaction

The number of women in the work force in Brazil is increasing, and a pattern of early work participation and a later decline continues to be manifested. The maternal role is a central role for these women. We investigated the quality of the maternal role as perceived by women who hold clerical jobs in a southern Brazilian city. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from a random sample of 60 women. Thirty‐three of these women were mothers with one or more children. Maternal role likes, dislikes, and stresses were obtained through questionnaires. Coping strategies and resources to cope with the maternal role needs were also obtained. Analytical categories were developed for each of these variables and the analysis was completed through the use of a qualitative computer program.