Ways of knowing: A narrative content analysis of Black mothers' decision-making process in podcasts

This qualitative study explored African American mothers' decision-making processes, considering societal and maternal influences during their formative years. Moreover, I examined the impact of systemic racism and anti-blackness, highlighting Black women's knowledge acquisition, ability to demonstrate epistemic resilience, and the strategies Black mothers employ to resist oppressive forces. The following research questions formed the foundation of my study: How do Black mothers story their lives in podcasts about families and parenting? How do Black women describe their decision-making in the context of mothering and motherhood? I conducted a qualitative narrative content analysis using purposive sampling to select five publicly available podcasts on family and parenting. I employed a thematic analysis approach to transcribe and analyze 15 podcast episodes depicting Black mothers' realities. The dataset produced three main themes: (1) Motherhood: Identity thief and identity enhancer, (2) Mothering, cultural knowledge, and the village, and (3) We live in a racist ass country. The results of the study reveal assertions consistent with literature that centers on Black motherhood, mothering, and the intersecting oppression of racism, sexism, and classism. The study proposes a visible use of digital mediums in family sciences, family studies, and the social sciences to explore further hegemonic ideologies and epistemic injustices that impact Black mothers from the lens of BFT.

Podcasts have become a valuable tool for Black mothers to share their experiences, challenges, and achievements with a broader audience, a form of oppositional knowledge. Moreover, podcasts hosted by Black women provide a platform for Black women to story their lives while challenging traditional and dominant forms of content creation and harmful depictions of Black mothers, often found across mass media outlets in academic research and textbooks (O'Byrne, 2019). The present study concludes with recommendations for researchers and policymakers to understand the hegemonic ideologies and epistemic injustices that impact Black women, mothers, and Black motherhood from the lens of Black feminist thought (BFT).