ORCID ID

0000-0001-6382-6457

Date Awarded

Spring 2017

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Department

Education

Advisor

Victoria A Foster

Committee Member

Charles R. McAdams

Committee Member

Thomas J. Ward

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the construction of motherhood of women raised by grandparents. The epistemological framework of Women’s Ways of Knowing provided the theoretical perspective, and the concept of ego development added descriptive depth. Seven mothers who identified as having been raised primarily by one or more grandparents were recruited for the study. Data collection consisted of one semi-structured interview and the shortened version of the Washington Sentence Completion Test (WUSCT-81) to assess ego development. Questions this study sought to answer were: What does it mean to be a mother who was raised by a grandparent? Sub-questions were: What themes within the meaning-making of women raised by grandparents may contribute to perceptions of motherhood? What are the influences of gender, culture, and social class in the development of perceptions of motherhood by women raised by grandparents? What is the relationship between the participant’s level of ego development and her perceptions of motherhood? The following themes emerged through this inductive study: unselfish motherhood; hindered belonging; generational incongruence; a la carte motherhood models; level of perceived support; and reflective gratitude. Implications for future research, Counselor Education and Supervision, and Family Counseling are discussed, as are limitations of the study.

DOI

http://doi.org/10.21220/W4T363

Rights

© The Author

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