Much has been written about the growing influence and reach of online learning in higher education, including the opportunities that this can offer for improving student equity and widening participation. One area of student equity in which online learning has an influence is that of gender equity, particularly for mature-age students. This article explicitly explores how the dual identities of student and family carer are managed by women studying online. It highlights the largely invisible yet emotional and time-consuming additional load that many women are carrying and discusses the importance of this being recognised and accommodated at an institutional level. Online study has the potential to facilitate a more manageable and achievable study path for students with caring responsibilities, most of whom are women. Institutional understanding and awareness are required for this potential to be truly realised, thereby reducing educational inequity.

中文翻译：

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我的孩子们……认为妈妈是一名单身男女是很酷的：有责任心的女性在网上学习。

关于在线学习在高等教育中的影响力和范围不断扩大的报道很多，其中包括这可以为提高学生平等性和扩大参与度提供机会。在线学习在其中影响学生平等的一个领域是性别平等，特别是对于成年学生。本文明确探讨了在线学习的女性如何管理学生和家庭照顾者的双重身份。它强调了许多妇女所承受的，在很大程度上是看不见的，但又是情感上和费时的额外负担，并讨论了在机构一级承认和接受这种负担的重要性。在线学习有可能为承担责任的学生（其中大多数是女性）提供一条更易于管理和实现的学习途径。