ANALYSIS OF THE SPECIFICITIES OF HIGHER COURSE STUDENTS

Abstract

The growing presence of women in the job market is a significant advance, but it is accompanied by a disproportionate burden of responsibilities, as the majority of domestic tasks still fall to them. This burden intensifies when these women become mothers, as motherhood brings unique challenges, such as pregnancy, breastfeeding and childcare, all while continuing to deal with their other obligations. Therefore, the search for professional training in parallel to motherhood presents numerous challenges. However, education plays a fundamental role in empowering women, opening doors to more valued social spaces. The purpose of this study is to conduct an active search among student mothers enrolled in undergraduate courses at the Instituto Federal Goiano (IF Goiano) – Campus Ceres, with the aim of carrying out a survey of the profile of these women and collecting reports about the challenges faced throughout their training journey. In this way, the aim is to give visibility to unaddressed issues and contribute to a plan for access, permanence and success for this specific group. The study conducted took an applied approach with a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Its objectives were explanatory and exploratory in nature, with data collection occurring in a field context. To collect data, a semi-open questionnaire was applied via Google Forms and contact was established, individually, via social networks, through the Whatsapp platform. The study reveals that, despite progress in gaining spaces and rights for women, gender equality is still not a concrete reality. Women who are students mothers at IF Goiano – Campus Ceres face stressful challenges due to the overload of domestic and maternal work, making it difficult to reconcile personal, professional and academic lives. The predominance of evening courses suggests limitations in access to full-time courses. Although the institution demonstrates commitment to diversity, cases of prejudice and stigmatization persist, requiring the implementation of training programs for employees. In conclusion, the need for institutional policies to support the permanence and success of students mothers is highlighted, leading to a reflection on actions implemented to guarantee equity in the university context.