Being a Female Academic During the Pandemic: Lecturer, Teacher, Mother, Scholar and More

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify the experiences of female academics with children regarding distance learning and working from home during the pandemic, their problems, gains, and opinions about the impacts of being a woman on their experiences within this process. To this end, the study adopted the qualitative research method of phenomenological design. Interviews were conducted with 11 participants with children working at the same university offering courses by means of distance learning during the pandemic. The data were examined through content analysis. The participants expressed that they encountered a variety of problems particularly due to being a woman. They stated that they assumed many different roles and struggled to carry out the responsibilities. Almost all participants indicated a significant decline in the volume of academic studies, considering the excessive amount of responsibilities assumed by women and the lack of sharing the workload at home. The present study is expected to help female academics realize that these problems are not unique to them, providing them with a source of motivation.