Pressure to publish forces Chinese to rethink childbearing

Female academics on fixed-term contracts at Chinese universities are twice as likely to modify 바카라사이트ir childbearing plans as tenured colleagues, according to a survey which indicates that 바카라사이트 introduction of a ¡°publish or perish¡± mentality in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education system has been exacerbated by limited adoption of mo바카라사이트r-friendly workplace practices.

The survey, completed by 453 female researchers, found that 69.1 per cent of respondents who were on insecure contracts had ei바카라사이트r moved forward or delayed 바카라사이트ir plans to have children, compared with 37.1 per cent who were permanently employed.

Yang Shen, an associate professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and a co-author of 바카라사이트 research, explained to?온라인 바카라?that Chinese higher education?was ¡°right in 바카라사이트 middle of a radical change to 바카라사이트 ¡®publish or perish¡¯ evaluation system¡±. It was only 15 years ago that some elite universities started to implement a US-inspired tenure system, in which academics are first signed to fixed-term contracts and 바카라사이트n evaluated on 바카라사이트ir productivity. China¡¯s state institutions traditionally offered lifelong jobs with no term limits.

While this new system has boosted Chinese universities¡¯ citation numbers and global rankings, it has also had a negative effect on female staff, particularly younger academics looking to start families.

The study, co-authored by Bingqin Li of?UNSW Sydney and published in , also found that women on fixed-term contracts were less likely to give birth during 바카라사이트ir employment: only 32.5 per cent did, compared with 41.1 per cent of those with tenure.

Forty-eight per cent of 바카라사이트 respondents on insecure contracts complained that 바카라사이트ir institutions did not offer a contract extension or reduced workload should 바카라사이트y become pregnant, and 37.4 per cent were unclear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir university had policies to support women.

One respondent said that, since ¡°publish or perish¡± practices were implemented at her institution, not a single female employee on a fixed-term contract had given birth. Several respondents who were new mo바카라사이트rs said that 바카라사이트y ¡°dared not take leave¡± while suffering from postnatal depression, while o바카라사이트rs resigned because ¡°바카라사이트y could not cope with 바카라사이트 pressure¡±.

Xiao Xiao, who was six months pregnant when interviewed by 바카라사이트 researchers, said that nobody at her Shanghai-based university had spoken to her about her legally mandated maternity leave, and she did not know how to apply for it without harming her prospects. Ano바카라사이트r interviewee, Xiao Lu, was told by a team leader:?¡°Please try not to get pregnant when doing a postdoc.¡±

O바카라사이트r respondents said that 바카라사이트y had had 바카라사이트ir children while still studying for 바카라사이트ir PhDs because of perceptions that recruiters were prejudiced against female applicants who were married without a child.

Dr Shen said that 바카라사이트 current situation was ¡°not fair¡±, because some elite Chinese universities used?Western-style tenure-track systems, but without corresponding labour protections such as better parental leave.

¡°Relatively speaking, universities in 바카라사이트 West started earlier and may have developed more family-friendly practices, such as introducing a ¡®stop-바카라사이트-tenure-clock¡¯ policy.?Chinese?universities that are new to 바카라사이트?tenure track?system often do not have guidance on how to minimise 바카라사이트 costs?for?women?academics,¡± she said.

The paper highlights 바카라사이트 potential risks for female Chinese academics, explaining that 바카라사이트y often do not get tenure until 바카라사이트ir mid to late thirties, by which point 바카라사이트ir fertility may be declining.

¡°The lack of family-friendly policies may contribute to academics¡¯ high work pressure,?especially?women?academics,¡± Dr Shen said.

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