PRAY FOR WOMEN IN ACADEMIA
by Kristen West McGuire
When I told my graduate school advisor of my first pregnancy many decades ago, I expected her to share my joy. I was shocked when she did not. Studies reveal that women academics have vastly lower reproductive rates than the general population. Oh. Perhaps that explains it?
While there is some truth to the observation that colleges and universities are dominated by secular liberals who may be somewhat disdainful of full-time motherhood, it is alarming that so many academics do not have families. Some of the blame is squarely on the colleges and universities. One study found that nearly a third of educational institutions had maternity leave policies that did not meet minimum federal guidelines. Few provide any child care benefits.
Simply because an academic job happens to mesh well with the local school district schedule is not an excuse for the failure to provide benefits readily available in the corporate world. While women receive more degrees (at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral levels), there are still studies documenting a pay equity gap among professors. Furthermore, the competition for academic jobs is high. Once someone falls off the “tenure” track, positions as adjunct lecturers are usually part-time and provide no health benefits.
The number of women professors who rise to leadership positions is not commensurate with their overall representation in the academy. Women earn nearly half of the doctoral degrees awarded each year; meanwhile, only 33% of college presidents are women. I hope that all women academics will find full equality and their full potential, mentally and maternally.
PERG Learning has a Family Friendly Campus Toolkit for colleges and universities to support student parents.
Conservative college women formed the Network for enlightened Women (NeW) in 2004, in response to the liberal bias on campus.
The American Association of University Women has a report, Tenure Denied, that attempts to pinpoint some of the weaknesses of the tenure system, and how it perpetuates gender bias in the academy.
Lord, We Pray:
•for women professors and students, that they would find support networks and mentors who can help them to engage the full potential of the feminine genius;
•for women balancing the demands of work and family in the university setting, that they would have the courage to ask for the resources they need;
•For women in leadership roles on campus, that they would receive the career development to be promoted;
•for adjunct professors, that they would receive larger pay and benefits ;
•That both men and women who have, knowingly or unknowingly, contributed to gender-based inequities for faculty or students at colleges and universities would repent.
Amen
