許多研究者認為，台灣的兒童照顧制度公共化程度低，勞動市場對母親不友善，而導致許多婦女因親自育兒的壓力，而決定離開職場。然而，過去研究多從結構面，較少從母親個人的角度出發，探討她們面對衝突時，為何決定離職，以及離職後的生活與照顧安排。本研究透過訪談十五位中產階級母親，採建制民族誌視角，檢視這群母親面臨衝突時，在結構限制下的認同和行動的選擇。研究發現她們強調離職是「自願的選擇」，但作者分析其面臨的是結構限制下的「選擇差距」。離職後她們會展現自主性並操演認同，採「密集母職」扮演社會所期待的「好媽媽」角色。另外，她們以兼職工作或參與志工的方式，來逃避社會對「傳統家庭主婦」的負面標籤，以建立自我的正向認同。值得注意的是，從制度的層面來看，其母職認同與離職的選擇，卻間接地鞏固了台灣性別化與市場化的兒童照顧體制，加深兒童照顧是個人與家庭責任的社會氛圍。對於推動照顧與工作共容的社會運動與政策制訂者來說，這群離職母親的真實聲音，值得被慎重地考量。

Most of the studies in the past had stressed the disadvantages of mothers in lobor market when encountering work-care conflict from a structural point of view. Yet, this research, adopting narrative method and institutional ethnography perspective, explores and analyzes the identity construction and action of middle-class mothers under the same situation from a different viewpoint. Through interviews with 15 stay-at-home mothers, it is found that they identified themselves’ choice to quit is a voluntary one, while we argued that it is a choice gap under structural constrains. They would practise intensive mothering in order to preserve the social image of a good mother. Meanwhile, to avoid social stigma as a traditional housewife, they would also work parttime or as a volunteer which helps establish positive self-identification. Yet, on the other hand, it is worth noting that this action has consolidated the traditional gender roles as well as encourages low state intervention on child care. This paper emphasized the group of middle-class mothers’ real voices should be taken into account seriously by the public child care policy makers and activists in Taiwan.