Time, money, leisure and guilt - the gendered challenges of higher education for mature-age students

Two qualitative research projects examined the impact of university

study on two cohorts of mature-age students at a regional university

in Australia. All the students interviewed had entered university

via non-traditional pathways and had faced significant hurdles in

gaining university entrance and continuing with their studies. The

influence of gender on their experiences of managing home, family

and work responsibilities in combination with their responsibilities

as students is examined. Issues such as lack of time and money,

self-sacrifice and guilt emerged strongly from the stories of these

students as they struggled to manage their multiple responsibilities.

The gendered nature of these struggles is explored.