Weaving work and motherhood: a narrative study of identity integration

Balancing work and motherhood involves complex identity work that shapes women’s well-being and sense of self. Guided by a matricentric feminist framework and identity-development theory, this qualitative study examined how working mothers construct meaning and integration across professional and maternal roles within the Canadian context. Seven mothers of children under five participated in two narrative interviews, which were analyzed using narrative–thematic analysis. Four processes described the developmental movement toward integration: forming expectations of working motherhood, experiencing identity disruption, establishing integration, and maintaining coherence over time. Participants reconciled tensions between societal expectations and personal values through reflection, flexibility, and relational support, fostering self-acceptance and well-being. Identity integration emerged as an ongoing, strengths-based process characterized by adaptability, meaning-making, and relational resilience. Findings extend understanding of adult identity development and offer implications for counselling psychologists supporting women navigating role transitions, relational dynamics, and systemic challenges.