New UC-Irvine Study Finds "Quiet Desperation" Among Academic Women

From Inside Higher Ed:

A recent study exploring gender equity and discrimination in academia -- purportedly the largest qualitative study of its kind --finds "quiet desperation" among academic women:

Interviews with 80 female faculty members at a research university — the largest qualitative study of its kind — have found that many women in careers are deeply frustrated by a system that they believe undervalues their work and denies them opportunities for a balanced life. While the study found some overt discrimination in the form of harassment or explicitly sexist remarks, many of the concerns involved more subtle “deeply entrenched inequities.”

Of course, finding evidence of sex/gender discrimination in academia is hardly revelatory, but the specific themes through which the respondents experienced (or perceived) inequities may indeed offer new insights, providing what the author calls "a more nuanced perspective on discrimination and gender equity". They are:

• Subtle institutional and cultural patterns of discrimination
• Gender devaluation and holding positions of power
• Service is for women
• Perceptions of overt discrimination
• Career, family, and need for alternative models of professional success
  

Interestingly, the study (full text available here; abstract available here), conducted by UCI Political Science professor Kristen Monroe, was criticized by UCI administration upon its release:

Asked for a reaction to the study, Irvine released a statement criticizing it. “Professor Monroe’s article draws attention to the persistence and toll of sex discrimination on women faculty. Unfortunately, the article cannot to be said to offer original insight into the promise and challenge of gender equity in higher education. The formulation of the problem overlooks research in a host of related issues, such as gender schemas, work-life balance, and leadership development among others,” the statement said.

However, Monroe notes that "many of the concerns expressed in the study didn’t have to do with official policies or programs, but with more subtle questions."

New Book About Moms in Academia

Those of you who liked the "Ph.D. Mom" buttons I wrote about a while back may be interested in reading a new book about motherhood in academia called Mama, Ph.D. A description of this collection of essays is here:

Mama, Ph.D. is a literary anthology of deeply-felt personal narratives by smart, interesting women both in and out of the academy, writing about their experiences attempting to reconcile bodies with brains. This anthology voices stories of academic women choosing to have, not have, or delay children. The essays in this anthology will speak to and offer support for any woman attempting to combine work and family, and will make recommendations on how to make the academy a more family-friendly workplace.

Inside Higher Ed also has a Mama, Ph.D. blog -- click on this link or on the "Inside Higher Ed Blogs" link on the sidebar for more info.

Friday CJ Funnies: The Path to Delinquency Has Begun!

The other night the girls were sitting at the dining room table while I was making dinner. Maya was in her booster seat drooling happily, while Anna was kneeling on the dining room chair coloring a picture. Suddenly, Anna accidentally knocked a crayon off of the table, sending it flying to the ground where it promptly broke in half. Dismayed, Anna looked down at the broken crayon, sighed deeply, and exclaimed, "Oh, damn it!"

I was filled with a strange mixture of amusement, shock, and horror. Granted, as curses go, "damn it" is pretty benign -- a far cry from the F-dash-dash-dash word, to be sure. Still, even as I fought the powerful urge to laugh, my stomach clenched with shame -- I'm nearly certain that she heard it from me.

I'm sure that hearing your child's first swear word is something of a parenting rite of passage*, and I know that I'm certainly not the only parent whose kid has uttered a naughty word or phrase. (Hey, at least we weren't in public, right?) But that doesn't make me feel much better. After all, first step swearing -- next step delinquency!

*In the spirit of full disclosure, I actually remember my own first curse word. I was about 4 -- roughly as old as Anna is now -- and was searching for the perfect name to give the stuffed dog I had just received to go with my Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. Every name I came up with lacked that certain je ne sais quoi I was searching for....and then, suddenly, the perfect name came to me: Raggedy Shit. (I swear I am not making this up.) I remember running into the laundry room where my mother was sorting clothes and announcing, "Mommy! I named my dog 'Raggedy Shit'!" Of course, she wore an expression probably identical to the one I wore the other night. Although I don't recall the ensuing conversation, I imagine it was a lot like the one I had with Anna....and I distinctly remember being forced to select a new name for my dog.

"Huh?!?" CJ Story of the Day

It is not often that I hear a cable news anchor offer an astute criminological analysis (or, really, an astute analysis of any type). And yet, I couldn't agree more with CNN's Mike Galanos about the absurdity -- and potentially devastating consequences -- of this decision:

"A man is jailed because his daughter failed the GED several times"

Honestly, isn't this the most ridiculous thing you've heard in a long time?

Bringing New Meaning to "Dr. Mom"

The other day I was browsing around one of my favorite local boutiques, Shine.

I was looking for a gift for a friend, and Shine has all kinds of cool, kitschy items that make perfect (and unique) gifts. Near the register I spied a display of small buttons emblazoned with various witty images and phrases. One in particular caught my attention, and I knew immediately that I had to have it:


Isn't that awesome?! I'm going to add it to the flair on my ASC name badge.

P.S. I picked one up for Velma and ShockProf, too. Unfortunately, the buttons do not appear on Shine's website, so fellow "Dr. Mom"s interested in getting one might consider contacting the store to inquire about ordering via phone.