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Between work and family: Narratives of brazilian women scientists on marriage, motherhood, and career

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No. 23 (2025): Junio
https://doi.org/10.5354/2735-7473.2025.79607
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Abstract

This paper investigates how gender intersections influence the professional decisions of ten female scientists and university professors affiliated with state universities in Paraná, Southern Brazil. Using oral history as a methodology to listen to women’s experiences, we discuss the impacts of marriage and motherhood on their careers. Marriage is strongly associated with gendered choices and can lead to structural inequalities, such as the renunciation of professional opportunities to preserve family ties. Motherhood, in turn, intensifies the sexual division of labor, delays women’s careers, and is a significant source of stress due to the nature of academic work, as well as a cause of guilt for those who dedicate themselves to their careers. Our findings indicate that personal and professional aspects intersect and are analyzed in an integrated manner when women make career decisions, which becomes a source of conflict for them.

Keywords:

Women in science, academic careers, motherhood, work-family conflict, Brazil

Author Biographies

Roseli de Oliveira Machado, Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste

Docente do Departamento de Administração, Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste (Unicentro) e Vice-Coordenadora do Centro Interdisciplinar de Estudos de Gênero, Cieg/Unicentro.

Luciana Rosar Fornazari Klanovicz, Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste do Parana

Docente do Departamento de História e do Programa de Pós-Graduação Interdisciplinar em Desenvolvimento Comunitário. Coordenadora do Cieg/Unicentro.

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How to Cite
de Oliveira Machado, R. ., & Fornazari Klanovicz, L. R. . (2025). Between work and family: Narratives of brazilian women scientists on marriage, motherhood, and career. Revista Punto Género, (23), pp. 340–373. https://doi.org/10.5354/2735-7473.2025.79607
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Revista Punto Género
Facultad de Ciencias Sociales
Universidad de Chile
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