Mãe e estudante: os desafios de conciliar a maternagem e a graduação em Secretariado Executivo na Universidade Federal da Bahia

Abstract

Women constitute the majority of students enrolled in higher education in Brazil (INEP, 2023), reflecting significant progress toward gender equality in access to education. However, these advancements have not eliminated the socioeconomic, psychological, and cultural challenges that affect the academic experiences of part of the female population, particularly students who are also mothers. This study analyzes the challenges faced by student-mothers in the Executive Secretariat program at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) in balancing motherhood with academic pursuits. The research, applied in nature, adopts a descriptive character and a qualitative approach, utilizing ethnographic and autoethnographic methods to deepen the understanding of the complexities of this experience. Data collection involved a questionnaire administered to six student-mothers of young children (aged 0 to 6) during their undergraduate studies, in addition to the autoethnographic accounts of the author. The results revealed various socioeconomic and psychological factors that directly influence these students academic trajectories, emphasizing the importance of financial stability, support networks and institutional assistance. It concludes that the experience of being both a mother and a student requires greater attention from educational institutions, highlighting the necessity of recognizing the interdependence between mothering and academic formation to foster inclusion and educational success for this group.