What to Expect When You Are PhDing: A Case Study of Mothers in PhD Programs

• In Event: Research in Progress Roundtable Session 2
  In Invited Roundtable: Feminist Perspectives on Learning as Resistance, Black Educator Identity, and Mothering (Table 2)

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of mothers pursuing doctoral degrees, examining how they navigate academic challenges, balance responsibilities, and access support systems. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach grounded in matricentric feminism, the research combines quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to illuminate barriers such as institutional policies and societal expectations that hinder academic progress.The study's outcomes will inform recommendations for higher education institutions to foster empowering environments, enabling mothering doctoral students to thrive academically and professionally. By addressing gaps in literature and policy, this research contributes to a broader understanding of inequities for mothering doctoral students.

Authors

• Keisha Lanier Brown, Georgia State University

• Caroline Sutton Chubb, Georgia State University