PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY OF MOTHERS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS IN EASTERN POLAND: FINDINGS FROM OWN RESEARCH

This study aims to examine the labor market situation of mothers with children under the age of eighteen who reside in rural areas of Eastern Poland. The analysis is based on the perspectives of 304 women living in five voivodeships: Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Świętokrzyskie, and Warmińsko-Mazurskie. The research was conducted in 2024, with data collected using the CAWI technique and a survey-based method. The study considers the situation of mothers in two groups: employed and unemployed. Additionally, it explores the support available to rural women in their place of residence, including institutional programs designed to facilitate their return to work, opportunities for starting a business, and mental health support for mothers. The findings indicate that most women have strong professional aspirations and a desire for employment and career development. Motherhood is not perceived as a barrier to professional growth, as many women seek financial independence and do not want to feel disadvantaged compared to others. As a result, a significant number successfully balance their professional responsibilities with childcare.