MOTHERING WITH GRACE: MILLENNIAL WOMEN’S INTENSIVE MOTHERING DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS

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dc.contributor.advisorKatz, Sheila M.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberMonserud, Maria A.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberGregory, Elizabeth
dc.creatorCopell, Carli
dc.date.accessioned2023-06-14T19:57:32Z
dc.date.available2023-06-14T19:57:32Z
dc.date.createdMay 2023
dc.date.issued2023-05-16
dc.date.updated2023-06-14T19:57:33Z
dc.description.abstractIntensive mothering ideals set expectations for mothers to invest large amounts of emotional, physical, and mental energy and time into raising their children (Hays 1996). In the United States, intensive mothering is thought to be one of the most predominant mothering practices (Hays 1996). This study focuses on twenty millennial mothers in a culturally Southern region of East Texas. Extensive previous research finds parental involvement to be significant in the educational development of children. Similarly, it is assumed—from the decades of research—that mothers are the primary caregivers for children. I use a qualitative approach to investigate the influence intensive mothering ideologies have on a mother's educational beliefs, educational expectations for her children, and personal well-being. Mothers in this study varied across education levels, careers, and age. Participants showed consistent patterns of intensive mothering, shared positive feelings and experiences towards intensive mothering practices, and encouraged post-secondary education and general learning. While participants mirrored the findings of the intensive mothering literature—women feeling overwhelmed, tired, or falling short of expectations—the most significant finding of this study was how mothers coped with those feelings. The women in this study discussed mothering with grace and emphasized the importance of giving and receiving grace. In this study, grace was described as a form of patience and forgiveness. Grace was used as a response and coping mechanism when mothers and children fell short of intensive mothering ideals and expectations.
dc.description.departmentSociology, Department of
dc.format.digitalOriginborn digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/14596
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).
dc.subjectIntensive mothering
dc.subjectParenting styles
dc.subjectEducational expectations
dc.subjectMillennials
dc.subjectQualitative interviews
dc.subjectGrounded theory
dc.titleMOTHERING WITH GRACE: MILLENNIAL WOMEN’S INTENSIVE MOTHERING DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
thesis.degree.collegeCollege of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
thesis.degree.departmentSociology, Department of
thesis.degree.disciplineSociology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts

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