Heidi Sampson, a 2024 graduate of Antioch’s PhD in Leadership and Change, recently published her dissertation titled, An Internal and External Contextual Autoethnography of a Single Mother’s Experience as it Intersects with Misogyny, Patriarchy, and Hegemonic Masculinity.
With a robust search of related topics, Sampson took a contextual approach as she studied legal statutes, laws, domestic violence cases, and court cases. Through her own encounters and unique perspective, Sampson also took into account the institutional issues she experienced or encountered with others. She used Jack Holland’s book, A Brief History of Misogyny: The World’s Oldest Prejudice, to help expand on the world of being a single mom. This source helped define misogyny as it has infiltrated every institution that had been conceived through the patriarchy’s perception of family and the ideas of hegemonic masculinity that it represents and carries. This idea keeps single mothers at a pace to ensure they fall behind societal norms and success.
As a divorced single mother who once had a violent partner and was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, Sampson’s dissertation is a personal, contextual approach to the stigma, stereotypes, and institutional obstacles one may face in this situation. The intent of the study was to give insight into the single motherhood experience internally and externally. For ten years Sampson had difficulty navigating the assistance that was offered for her children, job, health, and spiritual needs. She often found the help she desired became a burden financially, physically, and emotionally.
Sampson works in communications and public relations for a religious and social justice nonprofit. She is also an adjunct teacher in the English department at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She holds a BA in Creative Writing, a BA in Gender and Women’s Studies, and a MFA with a concentration in Poetry and Nonprofit Leadership.
Learn more about Sampson and read her dissertation An Internal and External Contextual Autoethnography of a Single Mother’s Experience as it Intersects with Misogyny, Patriarchy, and Hegemonic Masculinity here.
