Final answer:
Hochschild refers to "supermoming" as a strategy where women aim to be both outstanding career professionals and traditional caretakers, highlighting the double standard that contributes to gender inequality. Men do not generally face the same conflict between work and paternal roles, leading to the motherhood penalty versus the fatherhood premium.
Step-by-step explanation:
Content loaded According to Hochschild, "supermoming" is a gender strategy that embodies a specific form of gender socialization, where women strive to excel both as professionals and as traditional caretakers simultaneously. This term reflects the societal pressure where women face the "motherhood penalty" in their careers, as opposed to men, who often experience a "fatherhood premium." The supermom ideal perpetuates the dichotomy of gender roles where even as women achieve professional success, they are still expected to fulfill the quintessential role of an attentive, nurturing mother, often portrayed in mass media. This expectation undermines women's professional opportunities and contributes to gender inequality, as their male counterparts do not usually face the same level of scrutiny or conflicting roles. Arlie Hochschild coined the term "supermoming" to describe a gender strategy where mothers strive to excel in both their professional careers and their roles as mothers. Supermoming involves attempting to meet the high standards of motherhood while also pursuing ambitious goals in the workplace. This concept reflects the challenges many women face in trying to balance the demands of work and family life. The term highlights the societal expectations placed on mothers to be highly successful in both the public and private spheres, often resulting in stress and the need for elaborate strategies to manage conflicting demands.