Dear letter writers, study sections, grant panels, etc…..(though expecting little will resonate)….
"men continued to publish the same number of papers after becoming fathers, women experienced a significant drop in research output (mothers had 31% fewer publications than did fathers 8 years after the birth of their first child)"
I also talked with my dean about bridge funding. She promised bridge funding.
She also reassured me that this was a blip in my career and it would be okay. (WTF, I thought. Reader: She was right.)
These two senior women scientists helped me successfully navigate through a career-ending crisis.
On the bright side, departments matter 👇
Women who do their phd in departments with senior women face smaller penalties
Competitive, highly productive department increases the size of the penalty
This and more details in our CEP WP cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/downloa...
It's not popular to acknowledge that many initiatives to help women retain their standing in academia after having kids were applied to all parents, at the further expense of mothers in academia
“The researchers noted that the parenting penalty was more pronounced among mothers who were trained in departments without women in senior positions, highlighting the importance of female mentors.”
My 1st NIH renewal scored 53%, the criticism being poor productivity. During that time, I had 3 babies and 3 papers. When I talked with my PO, she said "the reviewers don't know that! Tell them."
WTF, I thought.
But, I took her advice and included this in my A1 rebuttal. The grant was funded.
When my son was born, the only uni requirement was that only one parent take leave - so my husband was teaching a new class (I had just finished a double teaching load) while a male friend took leave as tertiary caregiver (wife + full time infant nanny) to finish a book. Crystal clear
On my CV and biosketch, I list motherhood (2000, 2002, 2004 - present). Then I wanted my reviewers/critics to know.
Now I want ECR women to know. Ask for help. Find your support network.
It is critical that us senior women in science support and advocate for ECR #womeninSTEM.
PAY IT FORWARD
Data is good but this is so insultingly obvious to every woman in academia who has had a child.