Do Babies Matter?: Gender and Family in the Ivory Tower

Families in Focus

by Mary Ann Mason, Nicholas H. Wolfinger, Marc Goulden

Do Babies Matter? is the first comprehensive examination of the relationship between family formation and the academic careers of men and women. The book draws on over a decade of research using unprecedented data resources, including the Survey of Doctorate Recipients, a nationally representative panel survey of PhDs in America, and multiple surveys of faculty and graduate students at the ten-campus University of California system.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Feminism, Education

188 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought-provoking, but makes a lot of causal claims when the data don't warrant them. Still, this book takes on a daunting task - showing the effect of families on various stages of females' academic careers.

[Christine Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting academic text that breaks down data explaining the effects of marriage and family on the careers of university faculty and graduate students. As an academic text, it can at times feel repetitive, as many of the findings overlap. Still a worthy read!

[Meghan Moran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Packed full of stats (which makes it dry, but also credible) and a bit dated now, this is still a good read to increase awareness of the continued lack of gender parity in academia.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book discussing contemporary large-public-school policy on maternity leave. But there's the rub: it's really only written from the perspective of a large public institution. There are oodles of other types of college and university settings out there, and lots of us are looking for answers. Tied with this is that there was little to no realistic engagement with increasingly limited college budgets. Everything's getting squeezed, including family leave and medical care. Instead the book discusses what universities "should" do--all well and good, but I think in today's world with actual pregnant profs out there, we should also be discussing what universities "can" do...or at least what we can honestly expect/demand from them.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I was thoroughly depressed by the data presented in this study of gender and family formation in academia (and by the fact that I am *such* a statistic), I was heartened both by the fact that these researchers have initiated this conversation and by the concrete solutions the authors provided to combat the core problems fueling these inequities. There are changes that can be made to ensure family/work balance for all academics. It is now on us, faculty, to convince those in positions of power that these changes are worth making.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the most depressing book I have ever written if you work in an university. Although it has made me feel better about my career!!!

Any female undergrad student thinking of going into academia should not probably read this.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly depressing but much needed book about the problems of meshing academia and motherhood in our present society.

[Samantha Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depressing but some good suggestions. Not sure they're very actionable for all institutions.