Empowering Women: Individual Paths Redefined

Anne-Marie Slaughter’s “Why Women Can't Have It All” argues that structural barriers hinder women from balancing career and family life. This study challenges the idea that women can freely define and achieve “having it all,” highlighting the societal expectations and limitations still placed on working mothers. Through interviews with ten mother-daughter pairs, the research explores how mothers navigated work-life balance and societal criticism, and how their choices shaped their daughters’ views on womanhood, work, and family. The study emphasizes that “having it all” is a personal and evolving concept, shaped by individual experiences and cultural shifts. By capturing these intergenerational perspectives, this thesis aims to empower women to define success on their own terms, resisting narrow societal norms and embracing a broader, more inclusive vision of fulfillment.