Stereotypes of stay-at-home and working mothers

• Kelly G. Odenweller ^[1] ; Christine E. Rittenour ^[2]
  1. [1] Iowa State University

     Iowa State University

     Township of Franklin, Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] West Virginia University

     West Virginia University

     Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Southern communication journal, ISSN 1041-794X, Vol. 82, nº 2, 2017, págs. 57-72
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • To empirically investigate the conjectured rivalry between stay-at-home mothers (SAHMs) and working mothers (WMs), we focused on stereotypes and attitudes about these two mother subgroups. In Study 1, mothers and nonmothers (N = 672) identified the content of 28 SAHM stereotypes and 21 WM stereotypes. In Study 2, different mothers and nonmothers (N = 499) reported on the stereotypes’ prevalence and valence. Principal components analyses evidenced six prevalent stereotype profiles for SAHMs and five prevalent stereotype profiles for WMs. Between-group differences (i.e., SAHMs, WMs, and nonmothers) emerged for stereotype prevalence, cognitive dimensions of ingroup/outgroup attitudes (i.e., warmth and competence), and outgroup homogeneity. These results demonstrate the combative intergroup nature of these mother subgroups and sexism surrounding the idealization of motherhood.