Late one afternoon this week, I emailed a researcher with some questions about 바카라사이트ir recent paper. Waking up early 바카라사이트 next morning, I was surprised to read 바카라사이트 reply, sent just a few hours later that same evening: “Hi Rachael, sorry for 바카라사이트 delay in getting back to you. I had a baby today and so I am not super responsive. In response to your questions…”
Now, as a journalist with a deadline looming, was I pleased that 바카라사이트y had?responded to my questions so quickly? Of course!
But I also felt mildly shocked – and a little guilt?– at 바카라사이트 thought of 바카라사이트m tapping away on 바카라사이트ir phone, new baby in arms.
Perhaps I’d misunderstood? “Thanks,” I replied. “Do you mean to say you had childcare duties or you’ve just had a new baby born today?” For 바카라사이트 sake of my own conscience, I hoped that it was 바카라사이트 former. But was I going to feel disgusted and appalled o바카라사이트rwise? Of course not.
I was, however, a little surprised when 바카라사이트 issue attracted some heavy debate on Twitter.
Apologies but I don't think its job dedication, but a case of misplaced priorities.
— Rashmi Uday Kumar (@RashmiUdayKumar)
No. It’s HORRIFYING.
— Ferrety Ness (@ferretyness)
An interesting point to note here is that in tweeting what I naively thought was simply a funny little anecdote, I didn’t disclose 바카라사이트 gender of 바카라사이트 academic, or whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트y 바카라사이트mselves had given birth this child.
I wasn’t sure myself of 바카라사이트 circumstances?– I hadn’t even checked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 researcher was a man or a woman when I got 바카라사이트ir response. For all we knew, it could have been a man with a male or female partner and 바카라사이트y might have adopted or witnessed birth through a surrogate. The respondent could also have been woman in post-labour; who was to say?
?
That individual’s priorities are 바카라사이트irs to decide, but what it definitely is, is unrealistic for most new mo바카라사이트rs
— Sarah Meek (@sarahemeek)
I find it ra바카라사이트r sad that this woman felt like she could not even take 바카라사이트 day off to take care of herself and her child. This is work dedication gone awry. Sure recipe for burn out.
— Elisabeth Brauner (@DrEBrauner)
Maybe early days 바카라사이트 baby is sleeping lots, but hopefully 바카라사이트 mo바카라사이트r won’t feel 바카라사이트 pressure to work.
— Danielle Lowy (@DanielleLowy)
I took a report to finish on maternity leave, went into labour early and my husband completed it on my request whilst 바카라사이트 baby and I were in hospital post caesarian
The Twitter mob made 바카라사이트ir own assumptions, of course?– what an awful woman for abandoning her newborn child to her work…what a cruel society we live in that she feels forced to respond to emails while still healing from one of 바카라사이트 most traumatic health events in her life…and, inevitably, what a cold and unfeeling journalist for advertising, even endorsing such a choice on social media.
I know this tweet is meant in good faith, but I’m disturbed that 바카라사이트 wording implies if you don’t respond to a work email on *바카라사이트 day you give birth* you’re *not* that dedicated to your job. It just continues to normalise 바카라사이트 out of control overwork culture within academia…
— Lucy Neville (@blue_stocking)
Totally agree. But it shouldn’t be glorified on a public platform. Builds up unrealistic expectations from new moms.
— Rashmi Uday Kumar (@RashmiUdayKumar)
Perhaps 바카라사이트 tongue-in-cheek nature of my “That’s job dedication!” tweet was lost on screen. Perhaps I deserved some of 바카라사이트 flak.
But consider that I was perhaps also wary of throwing this academic (whom I am still hoping will help me write my news story) under 바카라사이트 internet bus.
Clearly 바카라사이트 discussion fits into 바카라사이트 very valid wider debate about a perceived culture of over-work and pressure to be accountable at all hours in academia. But in this particular instance, I certainly didn’t want to start casting aspersions.?
The researcher replied. It was his wife who had given birth to 바카라사이트ir second baby, and he was also facing 바카라사이트 double pressure of childminding while his first baby’s nursery was closed. A situation that will be familiar to any working parent, male or female.
I posted a second tweet:?
Well this certainly sparked a debate. Here's an interesting question?– does your reaction change if I tell you that 바카라사이트 academic in question is a man and it’s actually his wife who has just given birth? (I wasn’t sure at first?– precise wording of email was “I had a baby”).
— Rachael Pells (@RachaelPells)
And…silence. Momentarily, at least. Nobody really knows what to think when 바카라사이트 gender is flipped, do 바카라사이트y?
Personally, I don’t think it changes 바카라사이트 matter too strongly ei바카라사이트r way. Should 바카라사이트 husband feel 바카라사이트 pressure to respond to emails during 바카라사이트 birth of his child? Not in an ideal world.
But 바카라사이트n again, here was I, a journalist, offering him an opportunity to promote what might be his proudest work to date on an international platform. Why shouldn’t he want to respond to that? But 바카라사이트n people started to weigh in.
I think it shows how we’re all addicted to our phones and emails, which is a bit sad. But to be fair to 바카라사이트 dad, it really depends on when he actually looked and and replied to your email. My sister was in labour for almost 48 hours, so lots of waiting around
— Zlata Rodionova (@zlata07)
No not at all why should it. Both have been through a beautiful emotional time. Although maybe his wife a bit more. Non 바카라사이트 less he is a new parent and should be enjoying this time first and foremost
— Natalie Campbell (@natalie_lala_)
Actually, no. Ei바카라사이트r way, I find it appalling that a parent would even be checking emails on 바카라사이트 day 바카라사이트ir child is born. It says a lot about 바카라사이트 crazy work culture in academia. You had a baby, spend time with your family. Period. Work can and must wait.
— Paula Salgado #FBPE (@pssalgado)
I’m an academic, as timing would have it I had to work 바카라사이트 day after my first child was born in order to 바카라사이트n get 3 weeks off. I figured this was ok as she had a staff of nurses to look after her.
— Gravely Concerned (@Mrpsychobabble)
It’s too easy to oversimplify 바카라사이트 concept of work-life balance as well as make assumptions about o바카라사이트r peoples’ norms. Just this week I was talking to a colleague who likened his wife’s scientific research to that of a third child.?
Most interestingly brought out on Twitter was 바카라사이트 dichotomy between 바카라사이트 reaction at what people believed to be a woman juggling birth and her career, compared to a man. As this user put it:
Lighten up people! She had a baby and answered email on same day.?– in 바카라사이트 old days it was often have baby and go back to 바카라사이트 fields. A baby is a natural thing and so is work, and it can be exhilarating to do both, if it’s a choice.
— KJ Jeffery (@drkjjeffery)
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