Date of Graduation

Spring 5-16-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Organization and Leadership (O&L)

College/School

School of Education

Department/Program

Education

First Advisor

Seenae Chong

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of mothers who homeschool

their children in the rural location of Shasta County, California (CA). This research was

guided by three research questions: 1) In what ways is the act of homeschooling a form

of resistance to existing power structures for mothers in a rural region in CA? 2) How

does the process of providing a homeschooling education for their children influence

mothers’ perceptions of themselves as confident and capable? 3) In what ways does

homeschooling allow mothers to offer their children an educational experience which

meets their unique needs and abilities?

The findings of this study included insight as to the ways in which homeschooling

informs mothers’ sense of self, the dimensions of community in relation to schooling and

family, and how homeschooling is situated within the broader context of education in the

US. This research revealed that the process of engaging with schooling alongside

children provides a unique and empowering experience for mothers, while beliefs and

values around motherhood are largely related to the amount and quality of time spent

with children as well as the ability to nurture their interests and experiences. Discussion

of these findings is interpreted through the lens of Critical Feminist Theory, which

suggested that not all forms of feminism are necessarily liberating. The issue of parental

rights is also explored through the relationships with homeschooling mothers and a

community which has experienced significant conservative activism in recent years.

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