Motherhood and academia?
Stuff like this gets me thinking.LNVH grafiek m:v academici
Can we just ascribe this divergence to the basic biology of motherhood? I’m certain there is more to it. Especially at UD/UHD levels universities are getting more active in supporting women advance their careers, e.g. through various mentoring programs and personal skills coaching.
What about the earlier career phases in academia that set the stage for this mismatch? Mindset, communication, strategic advice for action, practical support: all of these aspects hold powerful keys to change the way you envision your career, widen the range of options that you feel are available to you, and form the wishes that you allow yourself to dream of in the first place.
PhD candidates and postdocs, what kind of support would you need to maintain the male/female balance among your peers?
I just found a very interesting book about doing a PhD while being or becoming a mother. Although it is USA focussed, I think the stories in this book will be recognizable for many throughout the world. Have a look: http://www.amazon.com/Mama-PhD-Women-Motherhood-Academic/dp/0813543185
Some further thinking on this topic with input from a 2013 symposium of the LNVH in this post: https://vansijl.com/2013/12/18/inequality-in-academia/