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Societal expectations for women plus the specific biological determinants of their gender have consistently put women in a double bind; if they challenge the traditional cultural expectations they are not feminine enough, but if they comply with this role they can be seen as dependant, immature, infantile or passive (Kushner and Kasan, 1992-1993). As professional women in the workplace we have experienced this double standard. If we are also mothers, we have had to accommodate to our multiple roles while being aware of societal ambivalence toward our desire to actualize both our professional and our parenting roles.
Working women of childbearing age continue to increase in numbers, but our childrearing practices are still mainly based on a traditional division of labor along gender lines (Rankin, 1993; Jamieson, 1995). Over the past fifteen years, the fields of sociology and psychology have shown a growing interest in exploring the effect of women's multiple roles in their sense of self (Nadelson and Notman, 1982; Waintrub, 1992). Research has only recently begun to identify risks to women's health associated with this multiplicity of roles (Houston et al., 1992; Facione, 1994; Lennon, 1994; Olfman, 1994). Only recently is research focusing on the motivation of women's desire for gainful employment (Unger, 1993). Studies are beginning to corroborate what we knew empirically. In spite of the stress involved in the multiplicity of roles, female job satisfaction is a positive influence in the home environment (Barnett et al., 1992; Barnett and Marshall, 1992). Work that is self directed, where the individual is encouraged to use initiative and independent judgment is psychologically beneficial. Work, either inside the home or for pay outside of the home, that entails responsibility for circumstances outside of the worker's control and excessive amount of routine are associated with greater depressive symptoms, regardless of work status (Lennon, 1994).