Although prevalent network theories posit that job seekers are motivated to utilize networks for instrumental benefits, we argue that sociopsychological barriers can discourage network use even when access is readily available. We examine this overlooked dynamic by exploring how sociopsychological factors influence network activation among mothers reentering the workforce after child-related career breaks. Analyzing panel data from a representative sample of Korean job seekers, we find that these mothers are markedly less inclined to use network-based search methods than other groups of women. This inclination remains when we account for individual fixed effects, employment gap length, and potential network disturbances. To uncover the reasons behind this distinct job-search behavior, we conducted in-depth interviews with 60 mothers who experienced child-related employment breaks and 38 other individuals, including mothers without such breaks, nonmothers, and fathers. Whereas existing theories attribute limited network use to restricted access, our qualitative evidence reveals deeper sociopsychological hurdles: mothers often anticipate challenges in reciprocating job-related assistance and the potential revelation of their inferior status when seeking help. These multifaceted internal conflicts not only hamper mothers’ swift reintegration into the labor force but also nudge them toward roles for which they are overqualified. As we bridge these findings, we identify novel theoretical avenues for future research, underscoring how sociopsychological hurdles to network activation can produce gender inequalities in the labor market.
Tiantian Yang and Hyo Young Lee have received the 2026 Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research for their article, “Why I Searched Alone: Understanding Mothers’ Hesitation to Seek Network Assistance During Workforce Reentry,” published in Organization Science. Widely regarded as one of the highest honors in work-family scholarship, the Kanter Award recognizes research that combines scientific rigor with practical impact on work and family issues.Their study examines why many mothers returning to paid employment after a career interruption hesitate to seek help from personal and professional networks, revealing how concerns about identity, independence, and social obligations can become barriers to workforce reentry. The award was presented at the 2026 Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) Conference, where finalists were also recognized. Held in Montreal, the biennial conference brought together more than 400 scholars and stakeholders.
Yang and Lee’s article was selected from a distinguished group of 2026 Kanter Award Top Nominees representing leading scholarship on work and family.
Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research: https://centers.purdue.edu/cff
2026 Kanter Award Top Nominees: https://centers.purdue.edu/cff