It is a qualitative, descriptive, exploratory, and interventionist research carried out with nine lay caregiver women of children undergoing oncologic treatment. The objectives were presenting the multiple social roles performed by lay caregiver women of children with cancer and discussing the caregiver role before society. The study was carried out in March and April 2007 in the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The data collection was performed with the focal group technique. The results were analyzed through the analysis of thematic content which evidenced the multiple social roles performed by women, the main caregivers of society, independent of the context. Final considerations instigate a discussion among educational, political and social instances about the redistribution of social roles, mainly the family responsibility between man and woman. The nursing team participation can take place by the comprehension of these roles, imposed by the condition, besides facilitating the family inclusion in the care relationship.
Women's health; Caregivers; Family