This article contributes to the growing evidence based on well-being in doctoral study. It draws on 35 qualitative, in-depth interviews to explore how the well-being of an understudied group--working doctoral student mothers--is affected when undertaking part-time PhDs. While there is a growing literature on the research student experience and an…

This mixed methods sequential explanatory study aimed to understand the emotional impacts of working mothers in higher education during COVID-19 lockdowns and through the first year of COVID-19. The researcher conducted quantitative research in the form of a survey, which included a depression, anxiety, and stress screener. Participants who…

As women increasingly entered the labor force throughout the late 20th century, the challenges of balancing work and family came to the forefront. We leverage pronounced changes in the availability of public schooling for young children--through duration expansions to the kindergarten day--to better understand mothers' and families' constraints.…

This article addresses the interplay between motherhood and working as a professional educator. It focuses on female educators' relationships in the public sphere and private sphere, and how these two spheres inform and impact one another. The research aims to establish the degree and extent to which societal dictates affect women's identities in…

The percentage of female faculty members who have achieved tenure is disproportionately represented against their male peers. Even more so, female faculty members who are also mothers, or mother-scholars, represent less than half of tenured female faculty. Current research posits that a lack of female faculty in higher education translates to a…

Based on the identification of the discourse of choice in debates on neoliberalism, meritocracy and post-feminism, this article analyses how highly educated mothers position themselves within the discourse of choice and use "choice" as their discursive resource when reflecting on how their demanding careers combine with motherhood. The…

This article describes the disintegration of boundaries of work and family life due to the COVID-19 pandemic and makes visible the chaotic state in which academic and other professional mothers were forced to function. She discusses the struggle to separate personal from professional life, social isolation, lack of motivation and resource…

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to present, through interviews, the experiences of women adult learners in higher education with full-time jobs and family responsibilities. The results illustrated how these women adjusted to higher education, being older in classes, prioritizing school, work, and family, and having time…

The attrition of working mothers in technology workplaces is a pressing issue that demands attention from IT, HR, and D&I leaders who strive to forge inclusive environments within predominantly male industries. Through this study, I illuminated the multifaceted challenges these working mothers faced within the technology sector, exploring…

The growing number of working mothers, dual career couples, and working single parents raises concerns about the impact of work stress on family lifestyles and their ability to balance work and family obligations. The aim of this study is to examine the role of social workers in promoting work-life balance among working mothers at the University…

Public schools in the United States saw unprecedented reductions to in-person instruction during the 2020-2021 school year. Using the Elementary School Operating Status database, the American Community Survey, and the Current Population Survey, we show remote instruction was associated with reduced employment among mothers compared with fathers…

What it means to be successful in many careers today is best captured by Slaughter (2012): "The American definition of a successful professional is someone who can climb the ladder the furthest in the shortest time.... It is a definition well suited to the mid-20th century, an era when people had kids in their 20s, stayed in one job, retired…

Following a prologue in Chapter 1, Chapter 2 delves into the pivotal role of departmental culture and leadership in shaping parental leave experience. Findings reveal that the parental leave policy at one R1 institution fell short in providing adequate support due to the absence of proactive guidance from supervisors and department heads. The…

This qualitative grounded theory study delves into the profound impact of the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic (COVID-19) on Black working mothers, shedding light on its consequences on their pursuit of education and mental well-being. While prior research has explored the effects of COVID-19 on Black working mothers, this study focuses on the…

The first months of life are critical for establishing neural connections relevant for social and cognitive development. Yet, the United States lacks a national policy of paid family leave during this important period of brain development. This study examined associations between paid leave and infant electroencephalography (EEG) at 3 months in a…