Suportes (ou falta de suportes)? Estudos sobre a trajetória acadêmica de estudantes universitárias que são mães
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Data
2025-03-19
Autores
Ramalhete, Juliana Nascimento Lucas
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Editor
Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
Resumo
The academic journey can be marked by numerous challenges, among them the need to balance academic activities with the experience of motherhood. The literature highlights that access—or lack thereof—to support plays a significant role in shaping the academic trajectory of undergraduate students who are mothers. Thus, this dissertation aimed to investigate how support influences the career development of undergraduate students who are mothers. The research was conducted in two studies. The first consisted of a qualitative documentary study, which sought to understand the student assistance policies implemented in federal public higher education institutions in the Southeast region of Brazil that provide support to university students experiencing motherhood. Data sources included official university websites, public notices, and email communications with the departments responsible for implementing student assistance policies. The documentary study encompassed institutions from the states of Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais. The data were analyzed using Jamovi software (version 2022), a free statistical analysis tool. Initially, a descriptive analysis was performed, including the calculation of absolute and relative frequency measures for categorical variables. Additionally, measures of central tendency, such as mean and standard deviation, were computed. The research findings indicate that all 19 federal universities in the Southeast region of Brazil have student assistance policies. However, only 18 of these institutions explicitly state that they offer support for students with children. The primary focus of the policies implemented is on childcare assistance, specifically for socioeconomically vulnerable students. While other policies are available, only a few universities provide diversified support for students with children. This number decreases even further when the focus is placed specifically on assistance policies for undergraduate students who are mothers. The results highlight the efforts made by federal universities in the Southeast region of Brazil to ensure the retention of socioeconomically vulnerable students with children. However, there are significant challenges that may hinder the effectiveness of these initiatives.The second study, which was qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory in nature, aimed to investigate how support influences the academic trajectory of undergraduate students who are mothers through interviews. A total of 22 brazilian women participated in the study, all of whom were at least 18 years old, mothers of children aged 0 to 5 years, and enrolled as undergraduate students in federal universities in the Southeast region of Brazil. Data collection was conducted online via videoconference using Google Meet. A semi-structured interview guide was used, divided into three sections: (1) sociodemographic questions to characterize the sample; (2) questions addressing the study objectives; and (3) the MacArthur Scale. Data analysis was performed using the IraMuTeQ software, applying the Descending Hierarchical Classification (CHD) method. The findings indicate that access to support has a positive impact on the academic trajectory of undergraduate students who are mothers. Having access to support allows students to better balance their childcare responsibilities with their academic commitments. The more diverse the support network, the more secure the students feel. Institutional support, particularly in ensuring academic persistence and future employability, emerged as a key factor. University-based or municipal childcare services were considered by participants to be an essential yet unstable form of support, which enabled them to organize their routines more effectively. Conversely, the absence of support can have a range of negative consequences for students’ academic trajectories, including academic failure, delayed progression, and even dropping out of the program. Furthermore, participants reported that a lack of childcare support could hinder their ability to enter the labor market after completing their degrees. This study is expected to contribute to the theoretical discussions on career development, particularly within the context of higher education institutions. Additionally, it seeks to generate knowledge that may guide public policies aimed at supporting women in academic settings, thereby expanding
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Maternidade , Carreira , Universitárias , Assistência estudantil , Suporte , Graduação , Career , University students , Motherhood , Support network , Student assistance , Support , Undergraduate degree