PURPOSE
This study was done to describe the essential structure of the lived experience of working women raising children.
METHOD
Data were collected from 10 employed women with children who were under 2 years of age. The analysis of the data was done using the phenomenological analytic method suggested by Colaizzi (1978).
RESULTS
In this study, 6 essential themes were extracted: 'knowing by intuition child-rearing is difficult', 'having guilt-conscious of not being able to perform duties as a mother', 'hard work of maintaining two jobs', 'Lost self', 'realizing that one has become amother', 'thirsting for a social support system'.
CONCLUSION
With a rapidly increasing number of working women, the significance of this study in the field of nursing is in understanding the child-rearing experience of working women. The findings indicate the need for a systemic and emotional support system for working women raising children.