Academic Womxn and Their Partners: Managing Scholarly Expectations During the Coronavirus Pandemic With the Support of Intimate Relationships in Quarantine

Author ORCID Identifier

Deanna L. Hensley Kasitz ORCID iD iconhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1944-4432

Department

Government

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2021

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore how academic womxn experience their partnerships during quarantine and to determine the impact of those relational dynamics on scholarly productivity.

Background

Past literature indicates traumatic events and extended quarantine is associated with negative mental health outcomes. While primary partnerships serve as one protective factor, extended quarantine with one's partner introduces novel stress to a relationship, which may have unintended outcomes, including those that affect productivity.

Method

An online survey was provided to academic womxn invested in scholarship. Responses from participants who identified as in a relationship (n = 67) were coded using thematic analysis through a feminist lens.

Findings

Participants highlighted three major themes across their responses: time and space, communication, and needs. These findings reflected stressors typical within couple relationships but highlighted important considerations for partners of academic womxn in support of their scholarly activity during quarantine.

Conclusion

Though the flexibility available during the pandemic for academic womxn provided time and space for some to nurture their relationship as well as focus on scholar activity, this was not consistent across partners.

Implications

Findings show the mixed experiences of partners and confirm the importance of communication, especially about time and space and professional needs. Recommendations can be extrapolated to other processional and career partnerships.

Journal Title

Family Relations

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