Supermom Syndrome refers to the pressure and behavioral patterns arising from working women’s attempt to simultaneously meet high—and sometimes unrealistic—societal expectations regarding their professional career goals and maternal roles. This syndrome is defined as an internal barrier that slows a woman’s career development and prevents her from fully realizing her potential.

Definition and Core Characteristics

Supermom Syndrome is an emotional and behavioral condition emerging from modern women’s effort to maintain the ideal of being both successful in their professional work life and a flawless (“super”) mother in their family life. The central feature of the syndrome lies in the chronic role conflict and constant sense of inadequacy experienced by women due to the multiple roles they undertake—professional, maternal, spousal, and even socially imposed expectations such as being fit and well-groomed. In this situation, while a woman struggles to advance in her career, she feels compelled to prioritize family responsibilities due to the imposition of traditional roles, which can affect job performance and career progression. Another aspect of the syndrome is that the source of the barrier originates less from external factors and more from the woman’s internal world; the pursuit of perfection and the pressure of inadequacy lead women to exhibit self-sabotaging attitudes and behaviors that hinder their own career development.

Sources and Mechanism of the Syndrome

Supermom Syndrome arises from the interaction between individual psychology and socio-cultural structures. Its sources are the societal expectations and external pressures imposed on women regarding “good mother” and “good wife” roles and the behaviors deemed appropriate for these roles (Gender Roles and External Pressures). These external pressures can be categorized into three main areas: gendered classification, socio-cultural stereotypes, and the roles undertaken in private life. However, the mechanism of the syndrome deepens through the internalization of these external pressures (Woman as Her Own Enemy – Internal Mechanism). On top of pre-existing structural challenges (patriarchal structure, glass ceiling), women apply pressure on themselves by internalizing these social expectations. This self-inflicted oppression and self-blocking condition emotionally affects women in their career struggles.

Impact on Career Development

Supermom Syndrome functions, alongside other career barriers such as the glass ceiling, as a factor that limits women’s advancement in the professional world and reduces their motivation. Its effects include professional disempowerment; as a result of the combination of external societal pressures and internal self-imposed barriers, women become emotionally drained and weakened in their professional struggles. Furthermore, the constant pressure of inadequacy and perfectionism diminishes women’s motivation to achieve career goals, leading to decreased professional drive.