Interrupted Systems Mitigating Social Gender Roles: A Qualitative Inquiry of Motherscholars During a Pandemic

Abstract

A qualitative reflexive narrative methodology was employed to examine factors that constructed and constrained the experiences of working women academics who were quarantined with their children full-time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-four motherscholars responded to a computer-based survey with open-ended questions encouraging participants to share their unique stories. Purposive and convenience sampling was employed to obtain a diverse and representative sampling of women that included marginalized groups such as women of color and women who self-identify as members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning and all other people (LGBTQ+) associated with this community. Key themes identified include division of labor, self-care, privilege, socialized gender roles, feelings about partners, boundaries, safety, parenting, privacy, and impact on career/productivity. Focusing on participants' personal experiences of privilege or lack thereof, and the interruption of established systems, provided greater insight into how socialized gender roles are intensified during pandemic conditions. When established systems were interrupted, participants were more fully exposed to the negative impacts of socialized gender roles. Support structures motherscholars rely upon are fragile, particularly in times of crisis, which is when they are needed most. Institutions should recognize the hardships incurred during the pandemic and consider adjustments to performance expectations. Future research is needed to determine how best to create stronger structures during times of instability.

Same Old New Normal: The Ableist Fallacy of “Post-Pandemic” Work

“…It does not mean expecting immediate perfection, but rather centering continuous growth and accountability in ways appropriate to people's unique contexts. These include considerations specific to disability as well as intersecting needs such as child care (Platt et al, 2022). Truly safe work environments require protection not only from infectious pathogens but also from oppressive social norms and policing actions that disproportionately penalize those already disadvantaged (Dhawan et al, 2021).…”