Exploring the Sociocultural Meanings of Undergraduate Experiences Among Middle-aged Women Adult Learners

Key Points

• The study aims to explore the sociocultural meanings behind the undergraduate experiences of middle-aged women adult learners.
• Utilized focus group interviews (FGI) to collect data
• Conducted thematic analysis on the collected data
• Investigated participants' experiences in academic and relational contexts
• University enrollment acted as a means for social validation beyond educational achievement.
• Participants experienced a shift from relational identities of 'mother' and 'wife' to recognized 'learners'.
• University was perceived as an institutional space enabling relationship-based learning and social repositioning.