Author Dr. TaMika Fuller highlights 2023 Mothers Overcome More™ study findings and explores barriers and opportunities to support working moms

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies has released a new white paper, “Overcoming Barriers: Helping Working Moms Overcome Obstacles,” by TaMika Fuller, DBA, an affiliate of the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR) and College alumna. In the white paper, Fuller draws upon data from the University of Phoenix Career Institute® 2023 Mothers Overcome More™ or the M.O.M.™ report to explore the top stressors experienced by working mothers, the perceptions of mothers regarding their current jobs or careers, and strategies organizations can use to help working moms overcome obstacles.

“Low-income mothers struggle with the idea that a career is attainable because they do not have an adequate support system, good role models, or the financial means to obtain the degree or certification needed for that career,” shares Fuller. “Employers can tap into the full potential of these committed workforce members by engaging them in open dialogue and exploring solutions together.”

The white paper explores the impact of gender bias in the workplace and highlights M.O.M.™ report findings that personal finances a top stressor for working mothers, that approximately 65% of low-income mothers surveyed consider having a career a luxury, and the impact of the lack of workplace organizational resources including mental health resources, training and development opportunities, health insurance, paid time off, parental leave policies, overtime pay, and schedule flexibility.

The white paper proposes that employers create open dialogue to help address concerns and gender bias and ensure gender balance in hiring and promotions while highlighting that working mothers have transferable skills acquired from managing a household which they can use in the workplace. Lastly, the white paper suggests solutions for preventing burnout and promoting work-life balance.

Fuller is an economics professor at a community college in Texas and has been teaching economics and business-related courses for more than 17 years. She earned her doctorate in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

The full white paper is available at the University of Phoenix Career Institute^® webpage or as a direct link here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

About the College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program puts students in the center of an effective ecosystem of experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.

About the Mothers Overcome More™ or the M.O.M. ™ REPORT

The Mothers Overcome More™ or the M.O.M.™ report is one of the most comprehensive studies to date on the barriers American mothers face in their day-to-day lives, and the impact these barriers have on career development and advancement opportunities. The study was conducted by the University of Phoenix Career Institute®, part of the University’s College of Doctoral Studies, in partnership with Motherly — a platform of storytellers, teachers, shoppers and advocates for mothers— in order to provide insights on lower-income mothers and to help identify solutions to support and advance them on the path to self-sufficiency.

The M.O.M.™ report comprised a 20-minute online survey of lower-income moms (n=1,000) and middle- and higher-income moms (n=500). All participants were U.S. adults (age 18 and up) who were employed or seeking employment at the time of research. Researchers conducted fieldwork between July 19 and Aug. 3, 2023. Income categories were determined using the University of Washington School of Social Work’s Self-Sufficiency Standard. A full methodology can be found at www.phoenix.edu/career-institute.

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