Keywords
Women's Health
Employment
Mental Health
Labor Market
How to Cite
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the emotional experiences and feelings experienced by women during maternity leave, with an emphasis on the possibility of not immediately returning to work. An integrative literature review was conducted, searching the BVS, PePsic, and SciELO databases, considering articles in Portuguese published between 2019 and 2024. The analysis of the selected studies reveals that motherhood triggers a complex range of emotions, including guilt, fear, anxiety, and insecurity, frequently exacerbated by tension regarding the return to work. The results highlight the persistence of a significant challenge in reconciling professional and domestic spheres, a duality that falls predominantly on women. It is identified that the decision to interrupt one's career is rarely voluntary, being rather a consequence of the lack of family and corporate support networks, as well as the insufficiency of effective public policies. It is concluded that it is imperative to recognize the subjectivity and psychosocial demands of working mothers, fostering structures that enable them to remain in the labor market without having to give up the exercise of motherhood.
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