A colleague had a child in her last year of the PhD program (and while working as an adjunct) and then got pregnant again in her first year on the tenure-track.
Everybody is happy for her, congratulating her, and ready to make any adjustments necessary while she is on her maternity leave.
Nobody makes stupid comments, rolls their eyes, or acts like a victim.
Everybody is being completely normal. Just like this completely normal situation warrants.
This is very different from a university where I once worked and where the male Chair loudly announced, “Gosh, when will these people stop breeding already?” in a similar situation.
Or from another university where I once worked and where every female job candidate was asked, “Are you planning to have any babies?” Obviously, no male candidate was asked this.
To be honest, I was very glad I had children before getting a TT job. I was very concerned about not being able to have children if I got a job that was unfriendly about women taking maternity leave. It’s great that your school treats maternity like a normal part of life! Many schools don’t.
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a university where I once worked and where the male Chair loudly announced, “Gosh, when will these people stop breeding already?” in a similar situation.
I’m almost afraid to ask, but has this Chair gone on to other leadership positions? Still Chair? Dean? Something in administration?
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This Chair ended up destroyed the department he chaired, so now there is nothing for him to be chair of.
Poetic justice at work. 🙂
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