Eu não vou desistir: vivências de mães discentes no ensino superior público

Objective: to know the perception of mothers who are students of public higher education regarding their experiences in the academic environment and the relationship with the institutional approach. Method: qualitative study with mothers who are students of two higher education courses in the health area, which use active teaching methodologies. Data collection was done through focus groups and individual interviews. Results: Four categories emerged: the treatment of the student regarding the right to be a mother; equality, equity and motherhood in the academic environment; multiple working hours: sexual division of labor and gender relations; and the conflict between motherhood and career. They also described inconsistency in being taught to be empathetic and provide humanized care, while not being treated that way. Final considerations: The students experienced prejudice and difficulties to perform satisfactorily, in addition to reporting physical and mental overload and double or triple working hours.