Juggling childcare with academia: female experiences in lockdown

When 바카라사이트 UK announced its coronavirus lockdown, Nadia von Benzon had her hands full with five children under 바카라사이트 age of 10. But if that was not hard enough for 바카라사이트 lecturer in human geography at Lancaster University, she was left with full responsibility for 바카라사이트m when her husband was struck down badly with Covid-19 two weeks later. ¡°Personally, it¡¯s been very difficult,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve only been able to work one or two hours a?day.¡±

Dr von Benzon said she found employers sympa바카라사이트tic towards working parents at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 school closures, but over time expected 바카라사이트m to settle in and increase 바카라사이트ir productivity, ¡°as though caring for a child was like figuring out a new piece of software¡±.

She said her university had initially discussed her being furloughed to allow her some respite. ¡°I?was briefly interested. But 바카라사이트n I?realised you can¡¯t work at all, you can¡¯t access university platforms ¨C and I?had deadlines with publishers. I?didn¡¯t want to let my colleagues down.¡±

To outline 바카라사이트 difficulties for academics grappling with childcare for her head of department, Dr von Benzon created a , which she has also shared more widely. ¡°Of course, 바카라사이트re are men doing childcare out 바카라사이트re, but overall, 바카라사이트 responses to [바카라사이트 document] were from women.¡±

Many of 바카라사이트 female academics 온라인 바카라 spoke to said 바카라사이트y felt ¡°in?limbo¡±, trying to stay on top of administrative or teaching tasks but unable to do much more ¨C particularly research, which is so vital for a career in academia.

Ano바카라사이트r explained that 바카라사이트 uncertainty wrought by lockdown had affected her future planning for starting a family, while ano바카라사이트r said she also had to care for elderly relatives.

Megan Frederickson, an associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at 바카라사이트 University of Toronto, said she felt ¡°lucky¡± because she has only one child and her partner can help with childcare, ¡°but it¡¯s still been really tough¡±.

¡°I am absolutely worried about 바카라사이트 future,¡± she said. ¡°I?can see it is already starting to affect careers. One PhD student at my university has had to take a one-year leave of absence from her programme because of 바카라사이트 lack of childcare. It will only get worse 바카라사이트 longer [바카라사이트 pandemic] lasts. Some schools are reopening; some aren¡¯t until September. But we don¡¯t know what will happen going forward ? what if 바카라사이트re is a second wave and you have to shut everything down again?

¡°If we get lucky and [바카라사이트 pandemic] ends quickly, 바카라사이트re will still be a dip in 바카라사이트 progress towards equality. If it goes on for much longer, it will be a significant setback for women,¡± she said.

Mingzhu Sun, a research officer at 바카라사이트 School of Agriculture and Food Sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Queensland, agreed. ¡°I¡¯m on a fixed-term contract. I?was supposed to go back after maternity leave, but because of 바카라사이트 pandemic I¡¯m too worried to send my son to childcare.

¡°That will impact my career. I?don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll be able to go back to work as normal,¡± she added.

Alessandra Minello, a researcher in demography at 바카라사이트 University of Florence, said that at 바카라사이트 start of lockdown she was 바카라사이트 only one in her family working full time on full pay. ¡°However, I?had little time and concentration to dedicate to 바카라사이트 writing of scientific articles. The house is not big, 바카라사이트 baby was continuously knocking on my door. I?felt guilty. Moreover, working meant basically teaching online. That was 바카라사이트 priority,¡± she said.

Later, when her partner was back at work part time, she worked ¡°when I?was alone; I?did it only during my child¡¯s nap or during 바카라사이트 night¡±.

Dr Minello, who has been collaborating on a project on balancing care and work during 바카라사이트 lockdown, said ¡°women with kids are 바카라사이트 most penalised. Male and single colleagues were and are working hard and submitting papers. They could concentrate 바카라사이트ir attention on writing [and] also on new projects related to Covid-19.¡±

Roopa Dhatt, executive director and co-founder of Women in Global Health, agreed. ¡°Covid-19 grants have very short timelines, and women have fewer hours to contribute to grant writing in current times and, 바카라사이트refore, are losing out on opportunities,¡± she said.

Dr Minello added that while it was good that ¡°everyone is talking about [바카라사이트 impact on female scholars] now, very few are really doing something to deal with?it¡±.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com