Motherhood 2.0: Slow Progress for Career Women and Motherhood within the ‘Finnish Dream’

This article investigates the gendered dynamics of motherhood and careers, as voiced by professionals in knowledge-intensive business sector Finland. It is informed CIAR method through 81 iterative, in-depth interviews with 23 women 19 men. Among respondents no children, one child, or two three dominant forms discursive talk emerge: ‘It takes to tango’, ‘It’s all about time management’ ‘Good 2.0’. Though Finland provides a seemingly egalitarian Nordic welfare state context, ‘Finnish Dream’, face contradictions between expectations full-time ideal workers pursuing masculinist careers continuing responsibilities at home, performing ‘good motherhood’. The women’s double strivings meet constraining demands these ideals. pressures are imposed on themselves, male colleagues, organisation more broadly society, leading enact form ‘bounded individualism’.