Mothers Navigational Capital: Hidden Eligibility Criteria in Postsecondary Education

• In Event: Women, Parenthood, and College Access

Abstract

Navigational capital, having the skills to maneuver in social institutions, is critical for mothers as it has immediate and direct impacts on the next generation. This study explores the extent to which mothers navigate postsecondary education and access other governmental resources. Further, I investigate which demographic characteristics or “eligibility criteria” are related to ability to navigate these resources using quantitative longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Results revealed challenges to navigating postsecondary education for mothers who are low-income, Hispanic, and unmarried. Juxtaposed next to data that emphasizes the eligibility criteria for Food Stamps and Medicaid, one must consider whether postsecondary education has hidden eligibility criteria that impacts mothers’ ability to navigate postsecondary education.

Author

• Kate Westaby, University of Wisconsin - Madison