Sens of Belonging among Young Mothers in Unequal Contexts: Educational Trajectories, Neighbourhoods and Public Policies

Abstract

This article analyses the experiences of young women who became mothers at an early age in Greater Buenos Aires. It focuses on exploring the meanings of belonging that are constructed and expressed through everyday forms of support and affect. The study is situated at the intersection of educational research, gender studies, and current debates on the diversity of youth trajectories. The text presents the results of a qualitative longitudinal study conducted with young mothers through the Youth Research Program at FLACSO Argentina, in collaboration with the Municipality of Avellaneda. The research is based on in-depth interviews carried out in two periods: the first during the COVID-19 pandemic and the second in the post-pandemic stage. It presents an analysis of educational trajectories and the sense of belonging across spaces such as the neighbourhood, the education system, and youth policies. The article sheds light on how these young women develop strategies of survival and sustenance in a context marked by persistent inequality. It proposes a situated and complex perspective on young motherhood, one that challenges essentialist interpretations and contributes to current debates on youth and care in a broad sense.