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Twenty women from nine disciplines share the common experiences, emotions, challenges, and transformations that come from writing a doctoral dissertation. Designed to invite readers into shared experiences, this book provides support and practical guidance for women writing dissertations, their advisors, and all those on the journey with them.

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Preface 1. Writing the Unknown 2. Mystery, Confusion, Isolation 3. Realigning Relationships 4. Transformation of the Self 5. Advisor and Committee: Dancing with Strangers 6. End of a Journey and a New Beginning 7. Looking Back Appendix: Gathering the Stories

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"This mother-and-daughter team, both successful PhDs, claim that theirs is not a ´how to´ guide for dissertation writers, but I can´t think of a better help for the person, female or male, embarking on the journey or in the midst of the struggle. If you´re an advisor or a doctoral program chair, you, too, should read this book. You´ll be moved by these twenty researchers´ stories and by the authors´ wise reflections on them." - Christopher Thaiss, Clark Kerr Presidential Chair and Professor, University Writing Program, and Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, University of California, Davis, USA

"This study of the dissertation experience of women offers invaluable insights for doctoral candidates and their faculty advisors, regardless of sex, making the dissertation process not only less painful but more productive of new understanding." - Mary Catherine Bateson, author of Composing a Life

"This talented mother-daughter pair of qualitative researchers has taken on an interesting evaluation of women´s relationships with their dissertation process. Studying this elite group of aspiring scholars, Dinkins and Sorrell offer a candid look at the dissertation journey through the eyes of the women travelers. Insightful, honest, revealing stories make it a must read for all doctoral candidates and their loved ones. It should be required reading for faculty advisors, committee members, and chairs who coach these students to successful completion of doctoral work." - Karen Drenkard, Executive Director, American Nurses Credentialing Center

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Author Christine Sorrell Dinkins: Christine Sorrell Dinkins is Associate Professor and Chair of Philosophy at Wofford College, USA. Author Jeanne Merkle Sorrell: Jeanne Merkle Sorrell is Senior Nurse Researcher at Cleveland Clinic, USA, and Professor Emerita of the College of Nursing and Health Science, George Mason University, USA.

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