These mothers did not engage in spells of paid work related to their previous position, nor did they try to create replacement activities; they seemed to go through a period of not knowing what to do. A coping strategy practised by three interviewees is illustrated by Geraldine’s (the former manager in an NGO) throwing herself into setting up a new business as a way of justifying herself. Even though she stated can just be a she ‘you mother’, immediately counteracted her position by justifying herself through her involvement in the parent-teacher association (PTA). In this second stage, she was torn. When I made the decision, it completely freaked me and I set up two businesses. You know, 'Oh my god I just be a can’t mother; that’s ridiculous, just not me'. So I set up two knitting labels. I got my mother and my that’s mother-in-law and me and we all knitted hats, scarves and booties, and we packaged them all, sold them in Primrose Hill, various shops. Oh yes, give I’ll myself some more work because I be a mother. Actually you can can’t ‘just’ just be a mother. But now I have taken on the PTA at the school. discomfort during this second stage in the journey shows through their Mothers’ clinging to their former work identity and fear of taking on the low status of caring work. Setting up a knitting business fits the stereotypical depiction of women entrepreneurs, but from another cleavages of that viewpoint illustrates ‘the identity’ mothers face (Bruni et al., 2005: 21). Mothers intermittently worked and set up new businesses to ensure what Weick (1995) describes as continuity and consistency in who they felt they were. Women whose previous work permitted it crossed back and
These mothers did not engage in spells of paid work related to their previous position, nor did they try to create replacement activities; they seemed to go through a period of not knowing what to do. A coping strategy practised by three interviewees is illustrated by Geraldine’s (the former manager in an NGO) throwing herself into setting up a new business as a way of justifying herself. Even though she stated ‘you can just be a mother’, she immediately counteracted her position by justifying herself through her involvement in the parent-teacher association (PTA). In this second stage, she was torn. When I made the decision, it completely freaked me and I set up two businesses. You know, 'Oh my god I can’t just be a mother; that’s ridiculous, that’s just not me'. So I set up two knitting labels. I got my mother and my mother-in-law and me and we all knitted hats, scarves and booties, and we packaged them all, sold them in Primrose Hill, various shops. Oh yes, I’ll give myself some more work because I can’t ‘just’ be a mother. Actually you can just be a mother. But now I have taken on the PTA at the school. Mothers’ discomfort during this second stage in the journey shows through their clinging to their former work identity and fear of taking on the low status of caring work. Setting up a knitting business fits the stereotypical depiction of women entrepreneurs, but from another viewpoint illustrates ‘the cleavages of identity’ that mothers face (Bruni et al., 2005: 21). Mothers intermittently worked and set up new businesses to ensure what Weick (1995) describes as continuity and consistency in who they felt they were. Women whose previous work permitted it crossed back and