Single motherhood among women researchers: a scoping review

The objective was to map scientific production on the experiences of single mothers in an academic context over the last 10 years. The scope review followed the JBI method and PRISMA-ScR recommendations, with a protocol registered with OSF. Searches were conducted in the Scopus, Web of Science, PsycInfo, ERIC, and SocINDEX databases, supplemented by Google Scholar, the CAPES Thesis Catalogue, and manual searches of references covering the period from 2016 to 2025. The selection was conducted in Rayyan by two independent reviewers. Of the 5,302 records initially identified, nine studies comprised the final sample, all of which were qualitative in approach and came from the United States, Brazil, Israel, and the United Kingdom. Solo motherhood in academia highlights an institutional arrangement that presupposes an academic subject without caregiving responsibilities. The low number of studies and the geographical and temporal concentration of publications indicate the need to expand research that articulates intersectional perspectives, evaluates institutional retention policies, and deepens the role of maternal networks and collectives in the struggle for a more diverse university.