1. Work, Family and Academia: Leaning in? Backing out? Lying down? Lisa Wolf-Wendel – University of Kansas

2. Work, family, and academe… what comes to mind?

3. Work, family, academe, and KU What comes to mind??

4. Background—Lean In Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In (2013) “This book makes the case for leaning in, for being ambitious in any pursuit” (p. 10). Given work-life issues… “Often without even realizing it, the woman stops reaching for new opportunities” (p. 93). “It is time to cheer on girls and women who want to sit at the table, seek challenges, and lean in to their careers” (p. 159). The lean in message is for women to try harder…is that enough?? Is it the right message?

5. Conceptual Lenses Ideal Worker—preference of work over family Public/private sphere Feminist theory: expectations by gender— “Act like a lady” “Man up” Role of individual agency and “choices” Life course perspectives Pipelines, glass ceilings, sticky floors, cement mazes

6. Women in Higher Ed—The Stats  Approximately 41% of faculty are women (aggregate/US)  Underrepresented in administration  Underrepresented at highest ranks  Underrepresented in many fields—STEM fields of particular concern  Underrepresented at top tier institutions  Over represented as contingent/temporary/part time  The higher the position/pay—the fewer the women

7. Career pipelines/pathways Graduate school Postdoc Tenure track Tenured Full professor Department chair Dean Provost President

8. Research findings (Academic Motherhood) Early, mid and “mid” mid careers… Joy in roles as mothers and professors Making it work Perspective making “Stuck” in the middle Choices related to dual careers and motherhood shape careers “Natural progression” in pipeline not happening Autonomous and balanced lives are nice

9. HOW DO YOU MANAGE WORK AND FAMILY?

10. Overlapping circles exercise What all is in your work domain? What is in your family/life domain? Draw two circles and fill in items in the “work” circle and in the “life” circle

11. What are the areas of overlap (within/between)?

12. What are the areas of conflict?

13. Teaching/advising Research National associations Associate Dean Connections w colleagues Talking about work and family (locally and nationally) Two kids Partner Cats Friends Family at a distance Exercise Eating healthy Healthy practices Work Life Areas of overlap: KU sports and recreation center, Lied Center affiliation/KU connection, and other resources we use as a family. Areas of conflict: Time! Work demands that cut into family time, travel for work, working with regional campuses (travel), working w stressful situations and people (leaks into home), postponing personal interests, and TIME!!! Conflict within circles.

14. How about you? Lean in? Back out? Lay down?

15. What strategies work to help you manage?

16. Lean in, lean back, lay down— influencing factors Individual choices and campus structures Work and family Socialization into different roles Accumulative advantage/disadvantage Ideal worker norms

17. Implications and promising practices Update campus policies Lead by example Campus climate Role and availability of mentors It’s not just about women It’s not just about babies

18. Policy: One size does not fit all Graduate Students Leave support Child/family care Mentoring Other? Post docs Leave support Child/family care Mentoring Other?

19. More on policy… Early Career Child/family care Leave policies Tenure clock stop policies Mentoring Mid Career Family leave Leadership development Promotion support Mentorship

20. Not enough to just have policy Revise often Look at use—provide reports, analyze Culture of use Leadership Men and women Other polices?

21. Conclusion Individuals need to create strategies in light of structural barriers Need to do more research What type of agency is expected of women? How are contextual differences influencing work/life integration? How does the intersection of race/ethnicity/gender influence roles and advancement? How do choice and structures interface?

22. Merely focusing on one element (individual agency- self/personal choices) in the equation without considering the organization (structure-external) presents a limited view of women faculty, leaders and gender equality.

23. Read all about it…

24. Questions? Lisa Wolf-Wendel lwolf@ku.edu