The Thin Line Between Motherhood and School Evasion

Abstract

The need to interrupt their studies is the reality for a large number of young Brazilian women who experience motherhood during their school years. This research aimed to analyze the mechanisms used by educational institutions from the perspective of students and former students, teenagers, and young adults in the Federal District. Such mechanisms can be used use to support or hinder the studies of young mothers. Six semi-structured individual interviews were carried out with adolescents and young women, between 17 and 30 years old, who experienced motherhood during their studies. Thematic content analysis was used to interpret the information. The article focuses on the first analytical category constructed. From the analysis, it was possible to understand that the phenomenon of school evasion is supported by historical and cultural biases related to sexist conceptions about binary gender norms that do not contemplate the diversity of women’s experiences regarding motherhood and femininity itself.