Maternidad Fronteriza Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: Testimonios of MamiScholars’ Resistance

Abstract

Recognizing that the burdens of Women of Color and mothers were augmented by the global pandemic and by the failure of institutions of higher education to equitably accommodate the needs of these populations, we shed light on the specific struggles experienced by MamiScholars in the era of COVID-19 in this article. We share our testimonios through the documentations of our MamiScholar realities to contest dominant narratives that would otherwise continue to undermine the legitimacy of our needs and demands during COVID-19. We further coin and define the concept of maternidad fronteriza, exploring the balance of being mothers of littles ones on the tenure clock. This article advances our understandings of challenges MotherScholars of Color face in institutions of higher education while providing recommendations about specific changes universities can make to produce equitable outcomes that address their specific needs.