"Starting from Ground Zero:" Constraints and Experiences of Adult Women Returning to College

Women adult students face particular constraints when pursuing degrees. This paper uses focus group data to explore the educational pathways, barriers, and supports of women students. Women's educations are shaped by personal and structural gendered forces, including family, economic, and workplace issues. Women report conflict over short-term sacrifices versus long-term gain for their families and experience stress from the competing demands of family and school roles. They also rely on families for support. When families and academic communities value the student role, women are better able to balance their roles and cope with the stress of returning to school.