Combining dyslexia and mothering: perceived impacts on work

Tina Skinner, Fiona MacGill

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Malacrida (2009) and Thomas (1997) have provided an insight into the lives of disabled mothers, but little attention has been paid to disabled working mothers. This paper draws on interviews with women who had a formal dyslexia diagnosis, to discuss: particular difficulties when combining work and mothering; the perceived positive impacts on work and education, of becoming a mother; unsupportive managers; what some mothers found helpful in order to maintain work; and the diversity between experiences. We conclude that for those already on a career path before having children, some of their experiences could have been seen as an amplification of what other working mothers’ face. However, a difference was that the added time taken up with mothering meant they became more vulnerable to ‘exposing’ their impairment at work. In contrast, for dyslexic women who were yet to attain a high status in education and work, motherhood encouraged them to initiate their career.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)421-435
JournalGender, Work and Organization
Volume22
Issue number4
Early online date21 Jun 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2015

Keywords

  • Dyslexia
  • work
  • mothering
  • intersectionality
  • disability

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