It Takes a Village: Academic Mothers Building Online Communities

Abstract

This chapter, authored by the editors of the volume, provides a theoretical frame for the chapters within the book. The chapter begins by exploring the issues that arise when an academic career intersects with caring responsibilities, most intensely felt by (but not limited to) mothers who are primary caregivers. The chapter explores the responsibilities that often confront academic mothers, such as parental leave, negotiating workload, juggling feeding while working, childcare, career progression, managing travel, and more. None of these issues are new, and yet many academic mothers find themselves feeling isolated, with few others within their institutions and networks who have had similar experiences. The chapter then considers the role of social media networks and groups as a form of social support for academic mothers as they navigate these issues. The discussion in the chapter will be considered through a lens of intersectionality, drawing attention to the ways in which these challenges of academic motherhood are magnified for those who identify as people of color, disabled, non-native dominant language speakers, and LGBTQ+.