Triangular Ethnography

A Ludological Approach to Academic Motherhood

Authors

  • Mila Zhu Southeastern Oklahoma State University
  • Sarah Morrison Southeastern Oklahoma State University
  • Jennifer Bailey Watters The University of Texas at Tyler

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55016/apcf3n54

Keywords:

Academic motherhood, Feminist ethnography, Ludology, Emotional labor, Work-life balance

Abstract

This study explores the complexities of professional and caregiving roles experienced by academic mothers through the innovative framework of Triangular Ethnography. Integrating feminist ethnography and ludology, the study employs memes as ethnographic prompts in a game-based methodology to illuminate the challenges, resilience, and humor of academic motherhood. Participants engaged in randomized storytelling rounds that revealed key themes: the unrelenting emotional labor of being the default parent, the blurred boundaries between work and home, the strategic use of humor as resistance, adaptive coping through strategic play, and the undervaluation of academic labor by family, society, and institutions. The findings contribute to feminist scholarship by offering insights into the lived realities of academic mothers while advocating for systemic reforms in institutional policies and academic culture. Methodologically, the study highlights the potential of ludological approaches for qualitative inquiry, emphasizing relationality, reflexivity, and the transformative power of play.

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Cover of the Journal of Educational Thought / Revue de la Pensée Éducative (JET), Volume 59.1, Spring 2026. The cover features a blue and light gray design with a large stylized white “JET” title across the center. Along the left side is a blue vertical panel with a faint image of a decorative architectural column. Near the top are four small square images showing partial views of university- and education-themed visuals, including text, an eye, a hand, and an abstract figure. The journal title appears in English and French beneath the main title. The University of Calgary crest and wordmark are displayed in the lower right corner.

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Published

2026-08-13

Issue

Vol. 59 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Educational Thought 59(1) - 2026

Section

Articles

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