“Let’s see how long the body can hold on”: precarious work and subjective precariousness in women who are mothers and university professors

Abstract Objective To understand the experiences of female professors who are mothers in the face of job insecurity in public universities, seeking to investigate the relationship between subjective precariousness and social gender markers. Methods In a phenomenological study with an empirical slant, seven mother-professors from different age groups, areas of knowledge, and institutions were interviewed. Results The main findings were that they faced challenges in reconciling motherhood and work, an overload of activities, gender injustice, and a lack of an institutional support network. As a result, some felt stagnant in their careers, frustrated, and/or emotionally exhausted. Despite this, they recognized the flexibility of the profession as a privilege for dedicating time to their children, bringing them to work, having the support of their partner/other women, and giving priority to caring for the family. Conclusion The precariousness of these professors’ work is favored by structural gender inequalities, which have a negative impact on their mental health, well-being, and quality of life, since the public universities where they work perpetuate these inequalities. Therefore, there is an urgent need for public policies that change the context of knowledge production in Brazilian universities, to favor these women with conditions of gender equity at work and that promote health.