Flexibility, Sacrifice and Insecurity: A Canadian Study Assessing the Challenges of Balancing Work and Family in Academia

Abstract

Semi-structured interviews (N=21) were conducted with faculty working at a small liberal arts campus in Western Canada during the summer of 2015. The research explored faculty's perceptions of balance between their roles as academics and as parents, as well as similarities and differences between men's and women's experiences. Three dominant themes emerged: flexibility, sacrifice, and insecurity. Ultimately, our research demonstrates that although male and female faculty members experience similar challenges in balancing family with an academic career, women tended to sacrifice more and experienced more stress and pressure stemming from both the academy and socially imposed norms around motherhood.