Tensions, Challenges, and Resistance among Academic Mothers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This chapter presents a reflection of the processes through which academic mothers have reconciled work-life balance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior research has evidenced gender disparities in academia, with lower proportions of female faculty as rank increases. During the pandemic, academic mothers have encountered intensified productive and reproductive responsibilities. As three academic mothers, we engaged in autobiographical interviews and conducted an analysis of these narratives across diverse points during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) bodies that produce and reproduce; (2) the triple shift of academic mothers; and (3) resistance and change. Implications for research and policy are explored.