Today’s workforce is comprised of more dual career families than ever before. This is a shift from previous eras when traditionally mothers stayed at home to care for children and fathers worked outside of the home as breadwinners. As women are more equally represented within today’s workforce, they still face gendered challenges when they become mothers. These trials impact working fathers also, yet in different ways. Parental leave is becoming more common for working mothers, but is still rare for working fathers. Even when working fathers are given the opportunity for parental leave, research reveals they are less likely to take a parental leave. The transition to parenthood can leave working parents feeling discouraged and challenged in their efforts to fulfill their roles as parents and professionals. It is not enough for the workforce to simply welcome women, it must adapt and flex for parents both men and women to thrive in their various roles. In this qualitative study, working parents’ stories are sought in an attempt to better understand the many ways communication shapes the working parenthood experience. The study utilizes narrative interviewing with couples who have young children to gain a richer understanding of the ways professional and personal experiences shape parents’ roles amidst a culture infused with gendered norms and expectations. Keywords: narrative, gender, working parenthood, parental leave
