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Post by hiding on Mar 24, 2014 10:19:45 GMT -5
Hi there,
Is it a good strategy to generally work from home/hide myself when I'm very visibly pregnant?
context: on research leave from an R1.
Thanks, hiding
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Post by Troll on Mar 24, 2014 10:48:53 GMT -5
Don't feed the troll.
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Post by genuine on Mar 24, 2014 11:22:10 GMT -5
I'm the original poster and am genuine in my question. We know that mothers are penalized in the workplace. Yes, we'd like systematic change on this but given that's not going to happen in the next few months/years, is it strategic to hide motherhood -- pregnant belly, no baby shower, don't bring the kid to work etc.?
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Post by runner on Mar 24, 2014 18:30:44 GMT -5
What's your employment status? Maternity leave? Future employment plans? Department culture?
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Post by follow-up on Mar 25, 2014 10:22:44 GMT -5
I'm TT and will go on maternity leave for one semester. The department culture? Hard to say. Kind of fractious, very demanding.
Thanks for helping me think this through.
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Post by my thoughts on Mar 25, 2014 10:35:17 GMT -5
I really hope you don't feel as though you have to hide the pregnancy completely. From one perspective, seeing you in the office with pregnant belly sends a message to your colleagues and graduate students (if you have them-- you said R1, so I'm guessing yes) that one can indeed blend the roles of academic and new/expectant mother.
That being said, you also mentioned baby showers and bringing your children to work. With regard to the latter, I would follow the department norms while always erring on the safe side. You're TT, so presumably you are able to afford good, reliable childcare once you are back at work, at least for days/times when you are teaching/in meetings. Emergencies happen, but outside a real crisis scenario, I think it's best not to bring children into the workplace. With regard to the former, I would never expect ANY professional colleagues to participate in a baby shower. Again, you are TT and presumably earn a livable salary. Yes, having a child is expensive, and yes, it's nice when the community rallies around new parents to help them get started. But a shower is, by definition, a party that requires a gift, and IMHO it is only appropriate to ask family and close friends to attend such an event.
Just my two cents.
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Post by response on Mar 25, 2014 14:43:26 GMT -5
Thank you for your thoughts!
I am less interested in being a role model and more interested in avoiding discrimination and getting tenure. I'm just not sure how to avoid discrimination. What I'm describing is "covering," a well-known tactic.
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Post by TTmommy on Mar 25, 2014 15:46:21 GMT -5
I am in a teaching intensive orientation, so this may or may not be of use to you. I would be less concerned about covering your pregnancy and more concerned about how your colleagues will assess your productivity or potential for productivity after baby is born. Is your research agenda developed enough that you will be able to get something out during maternity leave? Do you have supportive coauthors that you will be able to collaborate with? Also, How far along are you on the TT? Have your reviews for reappointment been favorable?
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Post by answers on Mar 25, 2014 17:33:30 GMT -5
Thanks TTmommy!
I am in my second year so haven't had reviews for reappointment yet.
I think I can have something out while I'm on leave but it depends on the speed of reviews and how hard it is to respond to them. But this is an excellent strategy; thanks for sharing.
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Post by My strategy on Mar 26, 2014 5:05:53 GMT -5
with baby number 1, and now that I'm pregnant again, is not to show up too much. I got pregnant during my second year as a TT. I say virtually nothing about my children/pregnancy, only invited close friends to anything to do with the birth of my first one, never bring in my kid to work, ever ever ever. I'm currently undergoing promotion review, so am hoping that I can come out as a reproductive being within the next year if all goes well.
I'm in a friendly and mostly supportive department, but still, have endured some annoying comments. My childless female chair was not happy that I got pregnant "so fast." Some male colleagues said annoying things to me. One joked about my raging hormones during a faculty meeting while I was pregnant. Following my maternity leave, some asked me how my "break" went, and one commented on my weight afterwards. I met all the latter with a tight-lipped tenure-track smile. Not enough to upset them, but enough to make it clear that this was a no-go conversation.
I think the low profile approach has mostly worked, and I have remained productive publication-wise, so that is vital. I hate to say it, but yes, cover. Play it smart, do your departmental duties, be discreet, and stay on your game. Very important: don't assume that your colleague who teaches a course on masculinity won't make a joke about your raging hormones. That is, don't assume anyone is your gender equality ally in practice because of their stated politics, or even because of their sex. The seemingly more conservative older male colleague could turn out to be much more sympathetic.
I also agree with the previous comments, try to set up your writing schedule so that you can do some tasks during mat leave that a sleep-deprived brain can manage, like copyedits. The proofs for my book came in weeks after I gave birth, and I did the copyedits plus the book index while on leave.
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Post by TTMommy on Mar 26, 2014 11:43:35 GMT -5
I would also add that you may want to set up a meeting with your chair before you go out on leave so that you can put in his/her ear about what your plans are for productivity and do your best to keep up with them. If they see that you are taking an active (read aggressive approach) to your scholarship.
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Post by thank you on Mar 27, 2014 9:36:30 GMT -5
Dear My strategy,
Thank you for sharing your experience, though it sure is discouraging. Pregnant in your second year and the chair makes a comment? When do they expect us to have children?
Let's look at this timeline: Graduate from college -- 22. Spend a year working before graduate school - 23. In graduate school for 6 years - 29. Second year TT get pregnant -- 31. Give birth -- 32.
Really? This assumes quickly deciding grad school (not the norm for many), 6 years of training (less than average) and no postdoc.
Unrealistic expectations aside, this is really valuable advice. thanks!
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Post by another timeline on Mar 27, 2014 10:35:12 GMT -5
I really appreciate this thread, as well as the hypothetical timeline offered by thank you. I wanted to share my actual, real timeline for additional perspective, which I imagine is not too uncommon and maps on to other people's.
Graduate from college, took 5 years (double major, studied abroad) -- 23. Spent TWO years working before graduate school - 25. In Master's program for 1 year - 26. Spent THREE years working before returning to graduate school - 29. In PhD program for 7 years - 36.
I'm entering a TT job in the fall. I'd like to have children, which means I'll be weighing similar considerations about pregnancy during the first couple of years TT that are being articulated in this thread. That said, thanks for sharing the advice and strategies!
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Post by TTmommy on Mar 27, 2014 12:18:45 GMT -5
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response to another timeline
Guest
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Post by response to another timeline on Mar 28, 2014 9:40:49 GMT -5
Hi there,
My timeline is closer to "another timeline" and what I asked myself was 'If having kids tanked my academic career, through whatever mechanism, and I had to take my PhD and find other work, would I be glad I had kids?' and i said yes. That clarified what I should do regarding childbearing. Regarding how to handle colleagues, beats me.
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