"Losing motherhood": African immigrant women and their perspectives on transnational mothering

Black immigrant mothers are often excluded from the dominant discourses on transnational mothering and their inclusion is necessary to move toward a more inclusive conceptualization. Using transnational intersectionality theory, the current study explores the perspective of mothers from countries in Africa living in the same community in the United States, and who have a child still living in their countries of origin. Mothers in this study reported a sense of “losing motherhood” and experiencing a lack of community support. Mothers related concern over their children’s well-being in their country of origin and hypothetical concern if they were to bring the child to the United States. The tenants of transnational intersectionality, motherhood ideals, practices, and resilience, are used to nuance mothers’ reported experiences and guide the clinical implications provided.