Diverse Motherhood for Work Inclusion

Through exploring the intersectional influences of gender, ethnicity, and motherhood, this project aims to improve the understanding and practices of supporting mothers from diverse background for work inclusion among employers and society.

Still today motherhood negatively affects female employment in majority of population across Europe. In particular it affects ethnic minority mothers that are more likely to leave employment after the birth of their first child or to suffer discrimination for it. Through amplifying the voices of ethnic minority mothers with children under school age in the UK, we explore the diverse and unique experiences and make recommendations on how the policies should be designed to combine the important roles of worker and mother to counteract the penalty that these mothers live. The project would be of interest to mothers, policy makers, and organisations that advocate for inclusive policy changes.

This project (2023-2025) took a community-driven approach by inviting community researchers to explore this complex issue among ethnic minority mothers living in the UK. Despite the implementation of policies aimed at supporting working mothers—such as flexible working arrangements and increased government support for childcare funding—there is a severe lack of voices from ethnic minority working mothers in the current media, literature and policies. Our study conducted interviews and focus groups with a total of 87 ethnic minority mothers, seeking to understand their unique experiences and perceptions of current policies and services that could facilitate their return to work after childbirth. Our findings suggest affordable, flexible, and culturally responsive childcare are fundamental to supporting ethnic minority working mothers. We also recommend government improving support for employers, increasing investment in communities and public support, such as tailored trainings specifically to mothers from ethnic minority backgrounds.

This project addresses that supporting diverse motherhood for work inclusion requires an holistic and community-based approach. This means promoting affordable, flexible and culturally responsive childcare, ensuring systematic support from employers, and increasing government investment in community-based initiatives.

Project team members

Dr. Wenjin Dai is a Senior Lecturer in Leadership and Diversity at The Open University. Building on her cross-cultural experiences, Wenjin's research contributes to the diversity of knowledge in leadership and organisation studies, especially through examining workplace experiences and intersectional influences such as gender, ethnicity, and motherhood. She is currently leading this Open Societal Challenge funded project titled 'Supporting Diverse New Motherhoods for Work Inclusion'.

Dr. Francesca Calo is Senior Lecturer in Public Management at The Open University. Francesca’s research focuses on the inclusion of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the labour market, through among others the Horizon Europe funded project SIRIUS. In the last two years she co-lead with Wenjin the Open Societal Challenge project titled 'Supporting Diverse New Motherhoods for Work Inclusion'. Francesca has widely published articles and books on the barriers and enablers of inclusion of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the labour market and the role of third sector organisations in favouring inclusion.  

Dr Fidèle Mutwarasibo is a Senior Lecturer in Work-Based Learning at the FBL and Director of The Open University’s Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership. He has extensive experience in the voluntary sector (volunteer, executive and trustee/director). He is an expert in EDI and participation. He is researching inclusive leadership and collaboration practices that address racial equity and goes beyond reliance on racialised minority gatekeepers looking after their self-interest. He will bring to the project his experiences of doing research with voluntary organisations and black and ethnic minorities community groups. 

Dr Steven Parker is a Lecturer in the Department for Public Leadership and Social Enterprise at the FBL. Prior to joining The Open University in 2022 he worked in local government as a social worker and manager. His interests are public management, project management, and public services design. He brings both his academic experiences of working on exploring public administration project management and practitioners experience as previous director of social services in a local council.