PART-TIME WORKING MOTHERS’ INFORMATION BEHAVIOR

by Kelly Sitzman

Part-Time Working Mothers (PTWM)

Who are they? Women with children under the age of 18 Work less than 40 hours per week Make up a large percentage of the American

workforce Why work?

Generate income Feel accomplished Get away from demands of home life Find balance between work & family

Questions about PTWM How do they find information about work

and family? In what ways do they balance their time

between work and family? Does working part-time allow for more

freedom in searching for information? What information do they value? So many questions, so few answers.

(Lack of) PTWM in Literature

Most literature focuses on: full-time working

mothers (breadwinner) stay-at-home mothers

(caregiver) Trends show mothers are

less interested in working full-time

Working Mothers

1997 20070%

10%20%30%40%

Percent of Mothers that Prefer Full-Time Work

Percent of Mothers that Prefer Full-Time Work

Findings of PTWM in Literature Mothers working in clerical or “earner-

type positions” were more likely to be depressed than those working in careers

Comparisons & contrasts of values and attitudes of stay-at-home mothers and full-time working mothers Examined roles & definitions of home

3.0 approach to technology Lack of support for stay-at-home mothers

Julie: Behavior of a PTWM Meet Julie:

33 year-old mother of 2 year-old twin boys Works part-time as office manager of small local office

Informational values Researched full-time work vs. stay-at-home vs. part-time work Current news stories from computer or phone Recipes & craft ideas from computer or phone General information from friends and family

Does not value Information about child care (too subjective and always changing) Social networking

Additional Information Organizes personal schedule on paper materials Does not feel unsupported or isolated Finding a balance between work and family is most important

Findings & Future Research Findings

Information values No 3.0 approach to technology No isolation or depression Does not lack support Balance!!

Future Research PTWM in 5 to 10 years

Working mothers are currently a significant part of America’s workforce

Continued increase in preference of part-time work over full-time

PTWM = Potential! Potential Outreach

PTWM as library patrons Shape library services to better fit this

group Information Gaps

Compare to full-time or stay-at-home Larger sample group

More Studies! Untapped resource

References Dillaway, H, and E Paré. 2008. “Locating Mothers: How Cultural Debates About Stay-At-Home

Versus Working Mothers Define Women and Home.” Journal Of Family Issues 29, no. 4: 437-464. CINAHL Plus with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed October 23, 2013).

Higgins, Christopher, Linda Duxbury, and Karen Lea Johnson. 2000. “Part-Time Work for Women: Does It Really Help Balance Work and Family?” Human Resource Management 39, no. 1: 17-32. CINAHL Plus with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed October 23, 2013).

Johnston, Deirdre, and Debra H. Swanson. 2004. “Moms Hating Moms: ‘Ike Internalization of Mother War Rhetoric.’” Sex Roles 51, no. 9/10: 497-509. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed October 23, 2013).

Lee, Charlotte P., and Ciaran B. Trace. 2009. “The Role of Information in a Community of Hobbyist Collectors.” Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 60, no. 3: 621-637.

Mullan, Eileen. 2009. "Mom 3.0: Marketing to High-Tech Moms." Econtent 32, no. 2: 14-15. Library Literature & Information Science Full Text (H.W. Wilson), EBSCOhost (accessed October 21, 2013).

Nwagwu, Williams E., and Mary O. Segilola. 2013. “Information Needs, Information Sources, and Information Seeking Behaviours of Engineers in Breweries in Nigeria.” Libri: International Journal of Libraries & Information Services 63, no. 2: 159-178. Library Literature & Information Science Full Text (H.W. Wilson), EBSCOhost (accessed November 3, 2013).

Tardy, Rebecca W., and Claudia L. Hale. 1998. “Getting ‘Plugged in’: A Network Analysis of Health-Information Seeking Among ‘Stay-At-Home Moms.’” Communication Monographs 65, no. 4: 336.Communication & Mass Media Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed October 23, 2013).

Taylor, Paul, Cary Funk, and April Clark. 2007. “Fewer Mothers Prefer Full-time Work.” Pew Research Center 1-13. Accessed October 23, 2013. http://www.pewresearch.org/files/old-assets/social/pdf/WomenWorking.pdf.

Wang, Wendy, Kim Parker, and Paul Taylor. 2013. “Breadwinner Moms.” Pew Research Social & Demographic Trends. Accessed October 23, 2013. http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/05/29/breadwinner-moms/