Publication Date
Spring 5-18-2023
Document Type
Action research project: Open access
Degree Name
MA Higher Education Leadership
Department
Leadership Studies
Abstract
The purpose of my action research was to gain a better understanding of working mothers at the University of San Diego (USD) and the influence of institutional policies in their lives. My research question was: What can I learn from the lived experiences of those who identify as women and mothers and work at USD that will bring awareness and changes to the policies and practices affecting them? As a mother working at USD, this research has significance in my life. Participants included 14 full-time staff and administrators with children 5 years old or younger. My findings indicate USD mothers are stressed and frustrated with pay, limitations of sick and vacation time, murkiness of maternity leave policies, and lack of affordable childcare; they also crave flexible schedules and additional campus resources. Recommendations include revisions to institutional policy to be submitted to Human Resources.
Digital USD Citation
Smith, Colleen K., "“The Juggle Is Real”: An Examination of the Realities Faced by Working Mothers at the University of San Diego and the Impact of Institutional Policies on Their Quest for Work-Life Balance" (2023). M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects. 128.
https://digital.sandiego.edu/soles-mahel-action/128
Copyright
Copyright held by the author
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.