Academic Mothers: Exploring Disciplinary Perspectives

Wolf‐Wendel, Lisa; Ward, Kelly

doi:10.1007/s10755-014-9293-4

Cited by 75 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Changing Attitudes Toward Balancing Academic Work and Life. Mothers in this sample may have been influenced by broadly changing attitudes toward balancing academic work and family life for newer generations of faculty members (e.g., Helms, 2010;Trower, 2010;Wolf-Wendel & Ward, 2015). The mothers in this study may be among the recent generations of academic women who seek to "have it all" with family and work (Helms, 2010;Trower, 2010;Wolf-Wendel & Ward, 2015, p. 28).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Mothers in this sample may have been influenced by broadly changing attitudes toward balancing academic work and family life for newer generations of faculty members (e.g., Helms, ; Trower, ; Wolf‐Wendel & Ward, ). The mothers in this study may be among the recent generations of academic women who seek to “have it all” with family and work (Helms, ; Trower, ; Wolf‐Wendel & Ward, , p. 28). Academic women who employ strategies and take advantage of institutional supports to manage academic and family responsibilities can and do experience productive academic lives and fulfilling family lives (e.g., Ward & Wolf‐Wendel, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effects of Parenthood During Graduate School on PhD Recipients’ Paths to the Professoriate: A Focus on Motherhood

Kulp

2016

New Drctns Hghr Edu

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Parenthood During Graduate School on PhD Recipients’ Paths to the Professoriate: A Focus on Motherhood

Kulp

2016

New Drctns Hghr Edu

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“…Previous study has examined the role conflict that women, especially those who are mothers, experience during their doctoral journeys (Haynes et al, 2012;Wolf-Wendel, & Ward, 2015). Although these studies provide rich results and implications for practice, the process of academic identity development for woman and its intersection with other identities remained a gap in the literature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The concept of the motherhood penalty in higher education is well documented in the literature on faculty as researchers have examined faculty with children teaching in tenure-track positions and found disparity between men and women (M. Baker, 2012Baker, , 2016Craft & Maseberg-Tomlinson, 2015;Cummins, 2012;Jakubiec, 2015;McCutcheon & Morrison, 2016;Seher, & Iverson, 2015;Stinchfield, & Trepal, 2010;Summers, & Clarke, 2015;Ward, 2014;Wolf-Wendel & Ward, 2015;Sallee, Ward, and Wolf-Wendel, (2016) purported that academic mothers experience greater responsibility related to household tasks and childcare than academic fathers. Moreover, male faculty publish as single authors more than women faculty, and women with children are significantly underrepresented in tenure track positions (Hart, 2006).…”

Section: The Current State Of the Literature And The Gapmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women in Distance Doctoral Programs: How They Negotiate Their Identities As Mothers, Professionals, and Academics In Order to Persist

Rockinson‐Szapkiw

Spaulding

Lunde

2017

IJDS

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Aim/PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explain how Distance Education women EdD students who are mothers balanced and integrated their multiple identities (e.g., mother, student, professional) to persist. Background It is well documented that parenting students experience higher levels of stress and pressure during their degree pursuit than their non-parenting counterparts. It is also well documented that doctoral attrition is a persistent problem across decades and disciplines, and examination of specific populations was necessary to better understand how to foster doctoral persistence. Methodology Data were collected from 17 women via questionnaires, life maps, and interviews and were analyzed in accordance with grounded theory procedures. ContributionThis study generated a novel theoretical model to explain women EdD students' academic identity progression from students to scholars and its intersection with other salient identities, especially mother, and the core sense of self in alignment with other identity theories. Findings Academic identity development from student to research scholar is complex and challenging, but follows a unique progression that begins with gaining competence in research, followed by a confidence to conduct research. This positive attitude toward research is often shaped by an influential advisor or mentor, a relationship that enables a student mother to envision herself as a scholar and mother. However, it is a woman's social conditions (e.g., supportive spouse, friends, or employer) that provide her the confidence and space to difWomen in Distance Doctoral Programs 50 ferentiate, develop, and intersect multiple identities, a process that allows for successful negotiation and integration of identities, and ultimately, persistence and attainment of the doctorate. Recommendations for PractitionersFindings highlight the need for more women faculty role models in higher education. To increase the number of women faculty mentors in academia, program administrators can recruit, retain, and support and encourage parental visibility through developing structures and supports for faculty with families. Given the women candidates' emphasis on stewardship, faculty should design coursework to allow students to intersect assignments with professional goals and practices, and support empirically and theoretically grounded dissertations aimed at not only solving problems of practice but also aimed at advocacy. Recommendation for ResearchersResearch is needed with women doctoral candidates in other disciplines from other institutions and regions of the country, including those without children and individuals in non-heterosexual relationships. Impact on Society This study is an important first step in better understanding female identity development through the doctoral process. Future ResearchThemes uncovered in this research need further investigation. Ruptures in relationships were uncovered but not fully explored or saturated. More research is needed to understand the specific co...

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“…Wolf‐Wendel and Ward (2015) found that women's experiences varied by academic discipline. Yet, few scholars have explored counselor educator mothers' experiences (Haskins et al, 2016), and most of the existing research focused on small numbers of participants.…”

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confidence: 99%