ABSTRACT
The invisibility of mother-scholars and their ways of knowing reflects a much larger academic trend. The chapter hopes to ignite, expand, and deepen the conversation on the relationship between maternal identity and academic identity. Within and without their respective universities, mother-scholars in higher education fuse maternal and academic identities. According to mother-scholars, maternal thinking erupts and interjects itself in their academic scholarship. All mother-scholars evidenced scholarship informed by maternal thinking. Further, mother-scholars search for alternative ways to disseminate knowledge. They question traditional formats for sharing one's work such as academic presses. How mother-scholars fuse maternal and academic identity emerged as an equally important theme to the work we do. Commitment to contextualized moments offers mother-scholars some breathing room. Mother-scholars articulate that resisting patriarchal oppression in universities cannot become a way of life. Mother-scholars inhabit the halls of academia and gain knowledge of the academic community but are ultimately unable and, more importantly, unwilling to access the full power of academe.
