A Currency of Love: Illuminating Motherhood Across Immigrant,Cultural,and Socioeconomic Lines During COVID-19

Abstract

The school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the work and home lives of families. Drawing on data from 19 interviews with Brazilian and non-Brazilian mothers in one urban elementary school, we explore how mothers negotiated their roles as caregivers, breadwinners, and teachers during this unprecedented time. Braiding Oliveira's concept of the currency of love with Yosso's concept of community cultural wealth, we argue that mothers across immigrant, cultural, and socioeconomic lines enacted similar care practices to sustain their children's learning. This study advances the literature by illuminating the sometimes invisible efforts of mothers to nurture their children's schooling.

Keywords

latinx < identity elementary school < programs qualitative < scale construction parental involvement < social immigrant students < urban education

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