This study investigates the mothering experiences of 50 Muslim female entrepreneurs from 13 cities in Turkey through in-depth interviews, focusing on how they navigate the intersection of motherhood, domestic responsibilities, and professional identity. It explores how motherhood—shaped by cultural and moral norms—interacts with career aspirations and household duties, and how religious identity influences coping strategies. For many participants, motherhood is a core part of self-identity, shaping how they organize their lives and make business decisions. The findings reveal an ongoing negotiation between maternal and entrepreneurial roles, often accompanied by guilt, self-doubt, and internalized ideals of “good” motherhood. These tensions are intensified by cultural expectations that romanticize maternal devotion, leading to emotional strain and feelings of inadequacy.

Women reported strong social pressure and external judgment, which reinforced internal struggles. Gendered expectations frequently lead them to prioritize caregiving over entrepreneurship, resulting in sacrifices that contribute to chronic fatigue and psychological stress. Religious identity plays a significant role in shaping these dynamics. Highly religious participants tend to perceive motherhood as a sacred obligation, deepening their emotional commitment to caregiving. In contrast, less religious women report more flexible approaches and reduced pressure to conform to traditional norms. Overall, the study highlights motherhood as both a deeply meaningful and emotionally demanding identity for Muslim women entrepreneurs in Turkey, shaping their self-perception, social roles, and professional trajectories in complex and often challenging ways.

Regret, an emotion rooted in counterfactual thinking, significantly impacts human decisions but remains understudied in the context of reproductive choices. This presentation explores two dimensions: parenthood regret, the distress from having children, and anticipated parenthood regret, the fear of future regret regarding reproductive decisions. Drawing on longitudinal research with young Polish parents, findings show that parenthood regret often becomes a stable part of parental identity, negatively impacting mental health, life satisfaction, and future fertility intentions (Piotrowski, Naude et al., 2024). When combined with parental burnout, this regret reduces motivation for having more children, reinforcing current demographic trends (Piotrowski, Mikolajczak, & Roskam, 2023). Tackling declining birth rates requires more than traditional tools like financial incentives or extended parental leave. Integrating decision-making frameworks such as the Theory of Planned Behavior with insights from regret psychology, the research calls for holistic policy responses. Effective strategies should include realistic parenting expectations, accessible mental health services, and community programs that validate diverse reproductive paths. Parenthood regret, then, is not merely a private emotional burden—it is a societal issue that demands collaborative solutions from policymakers, educators, and mental health professionals. By translating psychological research into inclusive, evidence-based family planning approaches, this work contributes to broader debates on demographic change, reproductive justice, and social innovation.

This study explores the challenges of women’s leadership in social work institutions—a field traditionally dominated by women, yet still marked by gender imbalance in leadership roles. Although women make up the majority of the social work workforce, they remain underrepresented in top positions, raising critical questions about gender equality, career advancement, and organizational dynamics. This research aims to understand why women’s leadership in social work remains underexplored and to identify barriers that prevent women from advancing into leadership roles. It focuses on three key questions: What does it mean to be a female leader in social work? What opportunities does leadership provide to women? What challenges do women in leadership roles face?

A qualitative approach was used, based on semi-structured interviews with seven women leaders from six municipalities in Lithuania. All participants had formal education in social work and held leadership roles in the sector. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The findings highlight persistent challenges including gender stereotypes, workplace discrimination, emotional strain, and difficulties balancing leadership with motherhood. Despite these obstacles, women often draw on their social sensitivity, professional dedication, and creativity to lead effectively. However, structural issues such as unequal pay, professional segregation, and the low prestige of social work further limit women's career advancement. These barriers also affect staff recruitment and retention, ultimately weakening gender equity and the institutional effectiveness of the social work field.

Frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to climate change pose significant challenges for families and caregivers. This narrative review investigates how parenthood intersects with emergency management, focusing on the differentiated impact of institutional responses such as school closures, evacuation procedures, and disaster relief policies. By adopting an intersectional perspective, this study explores how gender, socioeconomic status, race, and disability shape parental experiences during crises. Existing literature suggests that caregiving responsibilities are disproportionately affected by emergency measures, often reinforcing gendered divisions of labor and exacerbating social inequalities. Single parents, low-income families, and caregivers of children with disabilities face heightened vulnerabilities due to structural barriers in disaster preparedness and response. Furthermore, institutional frameworks frequently overlook the lived experiences of marginalized parental groups, leading to gaps in policy effectiveness. The aim of this research is to highlight the urgent need for socially innovative approaches in emergency planning that integrate intersectional insights. Addressing these disparities can improve institutional resilience and responsiveness, ensuring that caregiving responsibilities are equitably considered in disaster management strategies. By emphasizing the social impact of climate-induced emergencies on parenthood, this study contributes to the broader discourse on health inequalities, social change, and inclusive policymaking.