LAUSR

What comes to mind when you envision the single mother? What assumptions do you make about her? Have you already decided what kind of student she is or how engaged she can be based on her role as a mother more than her status as a student? The author opened this text with stories about her grandmother and the not-so-hidden judgment of unwed mothers. The narrative highlighted the unfair characterization of single mothers in U.S. society, with society’s concern for a mother often dependent upon marital status, class, race, and national origin. Mothering by Degrees: Single Mothers and the Pursuit of Postsecondary Education provides a look into the lives of single mothers and their experiences on three campuses. From community college to research university, the author, Jillian M. Duquaine-Watson, forces us to see the reality of a hidden student population that has been under-served and underappreciated. In the pursuit of welcoming and inclusive educational spaces, Mothering by Degrees highlights the experiences of single mothers with recommendations for supporting and investing in these determined, motivated, and committed individuals.