An Exploration of Barriers Women Face in Balancing Motherhood and Education in Kenya

Abstract

This study explores barriers women face in balancing motherhood and education in Kenya. Owing to the nature of this study, the research design was mainly qualitative and face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted by the researcher with 32 female students reported in their role as mothers of child (ren) eighteen years old or younger enrolled for postgraduate study at University of Nairobi using an interview guide. The study has three objectives:1) Evaluate experiences of mothers who study at postgraduate level; 2) Examine how women combine multiple roles of motherhood and education; and 3) Explore challenges that hinder women participation in postgraduate study. These study findings reveals that postgraduate student mothers experience conflict between various commitments like childcare, domestic, work and academic responsibilities. For example they juggled childcare and timetabling issues and, for some, their main challenge was a feeling of guilt for inability to spend quality time with their young families. These women however were able to overcome these difficulties with highly developed organization, time-management skills, family support and by sacrificing sleep and recreating time for their families. The women were strongly motivated by the desire for personal achievement, and the opportunity to create a better future for their families specifically their children. These study findings demonstrated that postgraduate study rewarded women with a sense of freedom, growth, pride and achievement, as well as developing their professional identity. It also provided them with a major opportunity to grow and develop their personal abilities while raising their children..