Date of Conferral

2-6-2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

JoAnn McAllister

Abstract

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides unpaid, job‑protected leave only for eligible workers, and rules tied to hours, tenure, and employer size often exclude mothers working part-time. Research on U.S. family and medical leave has documented inequities in access to job protections. The lived experiences of African American/Black mothers navigating this gap remain underrepresented. The purpose of this narrative qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of African American/Black mothers who worked part-time without mandated job protections, with specific attention to FMLA. General systems theory provided the theoretical framework, and an Afrocentric paradigm centered African/African American/Black voice through storytelling and experience. Nine mothers in Michigan participated in interviews; data were analyzed inductively from narratives to codes and themes. Findings included four themes: financial strain; well‑being (physical, mental, and social‑emotional); policy limitations and clarity; and work–life balance and support. The findings were that current job protection and leave policies often fail to reflect the realities of part-time mothers, leaving them to navigate caregiving, economic hardship, and major life transitions without adequate structural support. These insights can support positive social change by informing policy and workplace practice improvements that expand protections for part-time workers. The results can support clear access to information on policies regarding leaves from work and available supports, elevate lived experience as data, and may contribute to the protection of the health and economic security of African American/Black mothers and their families.

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