Equity for Motherscholars: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Theses/Dissertations

• In Event: Women Students, Faculty, and Administrators in Higher Education

Abstract

With COVID-19, motherscholars face expanded caregiving and lack of institutional policies, making attention to pressing gender-equity issues an imperative for "normal" and unprecedented times. Using Hofstede's (2011) cultural theory and Rich's (1995) feminist theory, this research addresses a historically-underserved population in higher education-graduate student mothers or 'motherscholars.' Through a qualitative systematic review, the purpose was two-fold: (1) to understand how the topic has been examined in theses/dissertations from 1997-2020 and (2) to identify steps to address persistent issues of equity for women in higher education. From an analysis of 44 theses and dissertations, findings showed three common themes (navigating challenges internally and externally, negotiating identity, and developing strategies to survive in academic contexts) and recommendations for systematic policy development/implementation.

Authors

• Anna CohenMiller, Nazarbayev University

• Zhanna Izekenova

• Almira Tabaeva