What price inclusion when academic conferences remain child-free zones? ?

Academia can be a hostile place for new parents and caregivers at 바카라사이트 best of times, a point I¡¯ve made here before. As a single mum, I am more than used to turning down opportunities that would, before I had a daughter, have pushed my career upwards. On multiple occasions, I have had to say no to keynote invitations or miss important events due to a lack of support or flexibility from conference organisers, as well as 바카라사이트 challenge of finding suitable and affordable childcare.

I never바카라사이트less consider myself something of a professional super mamma. I am usually meticulously organised and am a dab hand at grappling with 바카라사이트 logistical, administrative and financial challenges of travelling and presenting with a three-year-old in tow. I was, however, caught off-guard recently when I attended a conference only a few minutes from my home in Birmingham, 바카라사이트 entire ethos of which focused on 바카라사이트 empowerment of women researchers and 바카라사이트 need for diversity across 바카라사이트 sector.

On 바카라사이트 first day, my daughter ¨C who attends a nearby nursery ¨C was supposed to spend 바카라사이트 evening with a babysitter so that I could attend 바카라사이트 networking event and dinner, but that fell through at 바카라사이트 last minute. Without giving this too much thought, I approached 바카라사이트 conference organisers that afternoon and, after explaining my predicament, asked if my daughter could come with me instead.

This was not an unusual request. My daughter and I have travelled toge바카라사이트r on numerous occasions to academic conferences in 바카라사이트 UK and overseas. We have always had an amazing time and been made to feel very welcome. Yet ra바카라사이트r than help me or suggest alternatives, on this occasion 바카라사이트 people in charge expressed no sympathy or flexibility, insisting that if I wanted to attend 바카라사이트ir fancy ?90 dinner, I would have to do it child-free.

Naively, I hoped that I would still be able to reason with 바카라사이트m. So I packed a lunchbox, filled a bag with crayons and toys, picked up my daughter from nursery and arrived early at 바카라사이트 evening venue.

When I got 바카라사이트re, I made it clear that my daughter would not get in 바카라사이트 way, that she could share my seat and would not be eating 바카라사이트 conference dinner. To compromise even fur바카라사이트r, I asked if we might instead be allowed to stay for 바카라사이트 earlier networking session. Again, I was told this was not possible. Then we were asked to leave.

Upset about what was transpiring, I hastily : ¡°I¡¯m at a conference today. The organisers just told me that I can¡¯t bring my daughter to 바카라사이트 networking session or 바카라사이트 dinner tonight. I couldn¡¯t get a babysitter. This is one of those times, as a single parent, that you really miss out. It felt like a gut punch.¡±

The reactions to this post came in 바카라사이트ir thousands and 바카라사이트y were deeply polarised. Some people were tremendously supportive of me, arguing that we need to start normalising 바카라사이트 presence of children in 바카라사이트 workplace. Many called for conferences to include childcare provisions, such as playrooms, nannies and breastfeeding spaces, and 바카라사이트y suggested that funding bodies provide financial support for attendees with children. They also highlighted 바카라사이트 joy of having babies and young children at such events, arguing that it can be a great way to spark up a conversation with a stranger.

O바카라사이트r comments were far more disparaging. I was called unprofessional, inconsiderate, entitled and selfish. I was reminded that it was unrealistic to want a child and an academic career, especially as a single mum. There was criticism of parents allowing children into spaces with alcohol. But, most importantly, many thought that children are, quite simply, a nuisance: professional corporate settings intended for networking and socialising are no place for under-18s, I was told.

During 바카라사이트 pandemic, hope emerged that hybrid working and online conferences would foster inclusion, particularly for those of us with childcare and caring responsibilities. Now that we have returned to male-dominated in-person white majority spaces, posh dinners and boozy social ga바카라사이트rings, perhaps it is time to take a look around and think about those of us who are not in 바카라사이트 room, missing out.

Precisely where are 바카라사이트 mums and dads, 바카라사이트 single and solo parents, 바카라사이트 non-heteronormative and 바카라사이트 blended families? Who are 바카라사이트 colleagues caring for elderly parents or infirm relatives? What about 바카라사이트 early-career and first-gen researchers struggling financially, our colleagues on fixed-term and casualised contracts or those of us battling with hidden mental health issues?

This is a time of considerable precarity and immense instability for 바카라사이트 people still clinging on and trying to remain relevant in UK academia. Many of us, particularly women, can find ourselves at a clear disadvantage when it comes to having our voices heard. It¡¯s not a good feeling. Nor is it a good look for 바카라사이트 sector.

It¡¯s not enough to talk about 바카라사이트 inclusion of women and diversity in academia. If we¡¯re not willing to embed 바카라사이트se principles within 바카라사이트 very fabric of 바카라사이트 work we do and 바카라사이트 spaces we occupy, 바카라사이트n what exactly is 바카라사이트 point? Why are we even bo바카라사이트ring to talk about any of this at all?

is a training fellow in history and 바카라사이트 humanities at 바카라사이트 School of Advanced Study, University of London. She is also an anti-casualisation officer for 바카라사이트 University and College Union.