It’s OK not to be OK: Shared reflections from two PhD parents in a time of pandemic

Abstract

Adopting an intersectional feminist lens, we explore our identities as single and co‐parents thrust into the new reality of the UK COVID‐19 lockdown. As two PhD students, we present shared reflections on our intersectional and divergent experiences of parenting and our attempts to protect our work and families during a pandemic. We reflect on the social constructions of ‘masculinities’ and ‘emphasized femininities’ as complicated influence on our roles as parents. Finally, we highlight the importance of time and self‐care as ways of managing our shared realities during this uncertain period. Through sharing reflections, we became closer friends in mutual appreciation and solidarity as we learned about each other’s struggles and vulnerabilities.

Mothers as Home DJs: Recorded Music and Young Children’s Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Job losses, illness and social distancing have generated a great amount of stress in adults and children alike. The closure of schools allied with the need to homeschool children, the shift to remote working, the lack of assistance with childcare and housework, and of course, fears of becoming ill or having someone ill in the family have added time pressure, anxiety, vulnerability, stress and burnout in parents from across the globe ( Abdellatif and Gatto, 2020 ; American Psychological Association [APS], 2020 ; Brown et al, 2020 ; Hiraoka and Tomoda, 2020 ; Ilari et al, under review; Spinelli et al, 2020 ). Families with young children (aged 0 to 5 years) have been in a particularly vulnerable position due to the multiple demands associated with childcare during the early years of life which are incongruent with the disruptions associated with the pandemic ( Davenport et al, 2020 ).…”

Doctoral Candidates’ Academic Writing Output and Strategies: Navigating the Challenges of Academic Writing During a Global Health Crisis

“…In a survey of 79 doctoral candidates engaged in the field of oncology, Dhont et al (2020) demonstrate how working in isolation during the pandemic affects anxiety and depression among researchers. Abdellatif and Gatto (2020) concentrate on parenting and self-care among doctoral candidates during the pandemic, and argue that experiences of cultural differences during the pandemic can foster a sense of belonging and community. While many doctoral candidates felt "stuck" during their candidature prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (Kiley, 2009), the climate of uncertainty created by the pandemic is likely to have an even greater effect on the research capabilities and writing output of many doctoral candidates.…”

Chronicles of conflicting care in confinement: Documenting the work experiences of seven ‘patient zeros’

“…And lastly, were we even kind enough to ourselves in taking on an extra challenge, or was the writing and discussing of recent, troubling events in fact our self‐care? For Author Y, this collaborative project offered a way to feel connected in times of isolation by reflecting and writing together on insecurities, anxieties and privileges during the outbreak of COVID‐19 (Abdellatif & Gatto, 2020; Ahonen et al, 2020). For Author X, this piece is a tribute to her friends, who like many other women, struggle to be fully recognized for the (care) work they do.…”