Role strain: a duo-ethnography of fathers in online doctoral education in the United States
Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education
ISSN: 2398-4686
Article publication date: 17 June 2021
Issue publication date: 5 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Within the USA, current trends in higher education show more women than men achieving graduate degrees. Among the potential reasons for this disparity is that fathers are reporting challenges in balancing their additional responsibilities while increasing their housework and childcare investment. Many fathers are turning to online graduate education to more effectively balance home and school responsibilities. However, limited portrayals of fathers' experiences in online education exist.
Design/methodology/approach
In this duoethnography of two online doctoral student fathers, the authors add to the limited literature on both fathers and online students in navigating home, school and work responsibilities. The authors use Goode’s role strain theory to examine the challenges to achieving a balance between each sphere of responsibility and explore strategies for managing these tensions.
Findings
The authors discuss the need for ongoing flexibility and change, the process of navigating feelings of guilt and self-doubt and the ability to engage in daily role bargains. They argue that online education is generally not a panacea for easing role conflict and find that integration is an effective strategy to aid online students' persistence in their programs.
Practical implications
The authors conclude with policy and practice recommendations for future online doctoral student fathers and doctoral program designers.
Originality/value
Little research has been conducted from the online doctoral student father lens. This research fills in this gap and lends a voice to fathers who are navigating the doctoral journey.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed. Grant Information: The authors declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work.
Citation
McAvoy Jr, J.P. and Thacker, R. (2021), "Role strain: a duo-ethnography of fathers in online doctoral education in the United States", Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 301-320. https://doi.org/10.1108/SGPE-03-2020-0020
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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