Self-castigated Perception and Distress among Female Academics in a Mexican Public State University

Abstract

We use an interpretative approach to understand female faculty's family-work dilemmas and the implications for their mental health. We interviewed sixteen female faculty at a public state university in Mexico. We identified four narratives (self-castigated perception, the unsupportive organization, the eternal caregiver, and self-care) to explain how professional women responded to their professional and personal roles simultaneously. Although women experienced psychological distress as a result of their role tensions; they were capable of engaging in self-reflection and developing strategies of self-care.