2. Why?
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
Joined UF as Assistant Professor in 2001
Met my husband (2002) and married in 2004
Daughter (Resli) born in 2005
Daughter (Lela) born in 2007
Became Associate Chair in 2008
Granted Tenure and Promotion in 2009
Became Director of Lower Division Spanish program in 2009
Became Department Chair in 2010
Daughter (Kennedy) born in 2011
4. How difficult is it really to
have an academic career
and a family?
5. For working mothers in academia, tenure
track is often a tough balancing act
v Researchers from Barnard College in New York
interviewed 21 women, all striving to be supermoms
at the most demanding time in their careers. Many of
the women portrayed their work and family lives in
irreconcilable conflict. One mother described working
in ‘survival mode,’ just doing ‘the things that I can to
not be kicked out.’ Another said she was no longer
being invited to career-building speaking gigs. A third
faced the hard truth that she was ‘never going to be
one of those superstars.’
Daniel de Vise http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/10/AR2010071002610.html
6. For working mothers in academia, tenure
track is often a tough balancing act
v Disproportionately affects women:
v “a disproportionate share of women among
‘voluntary departures’ from faculty
jobs” (women represented 1/5 of the faculty
but 2/5 of departures)
v “[women] were more likely than men to report
feelings of intimidation, harassment and
discrimination.”
Daniel de Vise http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/10/AR2010071002610.html
7. The Academic Motherhod
Handicap
v “When a hiring committee expects to see a published
book before it will even consider a job candidate for an
assistant-professor position, only the childless and
parents with full-time caregivers at home are eligible.
When a tenure committee expects two books,
academic mothers had better start looking for a new
job unless they have been extremely lucky with
fellowships and helpful grandparents.”
Amy Kittelstrom http://chronicle.com/article/The-Academic-Motherhood/64073/
8. The Academic Motherhod
Handicap
v “for every successful academic mother, there are a
good dozen hidden women who have either sacrificed
their family plans for their careers or sacrificed their
careers for their children. Choicelessly.”
Amy Kittelstrom http://chronicle.com/article/The-Academic-Motherhood/64073/
10. Advice for balancing motherhood
and a scientific career
v Question: What is the effect of motherhood on
[an academic] career?
v Answer: New
priorities
perspectives and altered
jmb-craftypickle http://theconversation.com/advice-for-balancing-motherhood-and-a-scientific-career-7929
15. For working mothers in academia, tenure
track is often a tough balancing act
v Never feeling like you give/can give
100% to either (or any?) aspect of your
life.
v Always striving to find a balance:
v “You could choose to meet the bus when
your child gets off …but it means you'll pay
for it at midnight that night.
Daniel de Vise http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/10/AR2010071002610.html
17. How to make it work?
v Be honest and forthcoming about the challenges.
18. The Academic Motherhod
Handicap
v “Academic mothers should unblushingly total up the
time spent on reproduction and credit it on their vitas.
Give it its own category; call it "reproductive
allowance." For my two "easy" pregnancies conceived
exactly when I planned them with complication-free
deliveries, quick recoveries, and no lactation problems,
my conservative estimate is 1,810 hours spent. Each.
That's a book, right there, and then some.”
Amy Kittelstrom http://chronicle.com/article/The-Academic-Motherhood/64073/
19. How to make it work?
1. Be open and forthcoming about the challenges.
v Without being indiscrete or over-the-top, our colleagues
can and should understand that this choice we have
made has implications. On all aspects of our lives.
20. How to make it work?
1. Be open and forthcoming about the challenges.
v Without being indiscrete or over-the-top, our colleagues
can and should understand that this choice we have
made has implications. On all aspects of our lives.
v Advocate for yourself and other parents.
21. How to make it work?
1. Be open and forthcoming about the challenges.
v Without being indiscrete or over-the-top, our colleagues
can and should understand that this choice we have
made has implications. On all aspects of our lives.
v Advocate for yourself and other parents.
v Learn about FMLA, parental leave, etc. options. Be a
voice for working parents.
v Accept that we have all chosen different paths.
22. How to make it work?
2. Share ideas and resources.
23. Advice for balancing motherhood
and a scientific career
v “No one gives you a road map for combining
motherhood and career and someone else’s
map may not suit you…”
v “But the more that is put out there, the more
we can cherry pick the ideas that sit well with
our own personal values.”
jmb-craftypickle http://theconversation.com/advice-for-balancing-motherhood-and-a-scientific-career-7929
24. How to make it work?
2. Share ideas and resources.
v Talk to each other. Learn from each other. Support
each other.
25. How to make it work?
2. Share ideas and resources.
v Talk to each other. Learn from each other. Support
each other.
v Find a mentor who understands and respects your
situation.
26. How to make it work?
3. Priorities.
Perspectives.
Balance.
It IS possible.
