DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.182170.1 ISSN: 2046-1402

Navigating Multiple Identities: Intersectionality of Teacher, Researcher, and Mother Roles among Graduate Students in Research Writing

Mininn U. Branzuela, Judylyn T. Aminulla, Ramaidha P. Suaib, Aileen W. Bayhonan, Jocelyn A. Pajiji, Nilo J. Castulo, Arlyne C. Marasigan, Uaite Primeiro
Show PDF Cite
Women graduate students who juggle the roles of teacher, researcher, and mother face a unique set of challenges that emerge at the intersection of these identities. Women graduate students often struggle to balance their academic responsibilities and family duties. This balancing act can lead to significant stress, impacting academic performance and career progression negatively. Thus, this study examines how graduate students, especially women, balance their overlapping roles as teachers, researchers, and mothers during the research-writing process. This study employed a qualitative case study with eight participants, including those enrolled in PhD and master’s programs at a state university, as well as a mother, a researcher, and a teacher. The study was granted clearance to proceed by the Philippine Normal University and adhered to ethical principles, ensuring confidentiality, anonymity and voluntary participation. The findings revealed that participants employed strategies such as balancing priorities and relying on strong support networks. However, they also face significant institutional challenges, including heavy workloads and unsupportive policies. The key enablers of success include institutional flexibility, emotional and spiritual support, peer collaboration, and personal resilience. This study concludes that the challenges faced by graduate student mothers are not merely private struggles but systemic issues, underscoring the urgent need for universities to implement humane, mother-friendly policies to foster a more equitable and inclusive academic environment. This study contributes to the conversation by shifting the perspective from viewing the challenges of graduate student mothers as a private struggle to recognizing them as a systemic issue with significant public policy implications.

More from our Archive