Date of Award
4-15-2025
Access Restriction
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctorate in Education
Department
Education
School or College
School of Education
First Advisor
Rebecca Stephenson
Second Advisor
Keisha Chin Goosby
Third Advisor
Kenzo Sung
Abstract
This study investigated systemic challenges female educators in California have faced over four generations, focusing on intersections of capitalism, sexism, and feminization of teaching. Through a critical narrative approach, the study explored how historical and contemporary social structures shaped the professional and personal lives of female educators, many of whom were single-earners in their households. By examining how undervaluation of “women’s work” has perpetuated economic inequities, this research highlighted how low wages and limited professional autonomy historically associated with teaching have compounded issues of financial instability and job dissatisfaction across generations. Using social reproduction theory (SRT) as a framework, this study shed light on how gender norms and economic structures reinforce the expectation that female educators bear significant economic and caregiving burdens without equitable compensation (Bhattacharya, 2017). The narratives collected in this study revealed a recurring pattern of economic and emotional exploitation within teaching, reflecting broader cultural devaluation of caregiving roles. Findings suggest these dynamics drive teacher attrition and deepen socioeconomic disparities that affect educators and the educational system. The study contributes to discourse on educational policy by calling for reforms that address these structural inequities. These reforms include policy interventions acknowledging and correcting the gendered undervaluation of teaching and advocate for sustainable wage structures to support ix educators’ financial independence. Through these narratives, the dissertation underscores urgency of reimagining educational policies to foster a more just and equitable teaching profession. With insights drawn from experiences of 11 participants, this study captures the deep personal and systemic challenges female educators face within the profession.
Recommended Citation
Sutton, Stormie, "The Evolution of Working Women’s Needs: The Impact of Capitalism, Sexism, and the Feminization of Teaching on Four Generations of California Female Educators" (2025). LMU Theses and Dissertations. 1323.
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/etd/1323
