Go the extra mile: a gender approach towards parenthood in early-career academics

Abstract

The increasing neoliberalisation of universities demands that early-career academics (ECAs) accomplish extremely high levels of productivity. In this context, research excellence and parenthood are perceived as mutually exclusive. From a gender perspective, this study examined, in a Spanish ECA sample, the factors influencing decisions about the timing of having children, the perception of the effect of parenthood on one’s academic career, ideal work situations for having children, and concern and time spent thinking about how to combine professional development and parenthood. Findings showed that ECA women perceive more barriers to their academic career after having children and spend more time thinking about how to integrate professional development and motherhood than men, causing them higher levels of concern. The results also suggest that men have to consider traditional gender roles. This paper highlights gender differences in work-life balance expectations in ECAs.