1. “I Am Not Going to Lose My Kids to the Streets”: Meanings and Experiences of Motherhood Among Mexican-Origin Women.
- Author
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Bermúdez, J. Maria, Zak-Hunter, Lisa M., Stinson, Morgan A., and Abrams, Bertranna A.
- Subjects
IMMIGRANTS ,AGE distribution ,DISCRIMINATION (Sociology) ,FAMILIES ,FEMINIST criticism ,HISPANIC Americans ,INTERVIEWING ,JUVENILE offenders ,RESEARCH methodology ,MOTHERHOOD ,PARENTING ,RESEARCH funding ,RISK-taking behavior ,SOCIOECONOMIC factors ,ATTITUDES of mothers ,MEDICAL coding - Abstract
Motherhood has different meanings for women and there are a multitude of factors that shape experiences of parenting. Heuristic inquiry was used to examine the lived experiences of motherhood among 20 Mexican-origin women parenting alone. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted and data were organized and presented by six domains: (a) description of self as a mother, (b) perceptions of strengths, (c) perceptions of challenges, (d) influences as a parent, (e) meaning of motherhood, and (f) mothering as a woman of Mexican origin. Quotes were used to illustrate the six domains and a composite depiction to summarize our description and interpretation of the phenomenon of parenting alone as a Hispanic mother. Despite their challenges, participants described themselves as good mothers, who were protective, loving, and devoted to their children; they also described their culture as enriching their experiences of mothering although they faced obstacles due to marginalization and discrimination. A feminist-informed, intersectionality lens is used to discuss the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2014
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