Mothers in Academia: How to Make Way for the Next Generation

Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) hosts Mothers in Academia: How to Make Way for the Next Generation. 

Presented by Melanie-Angela Neuilly, PhD, Interim Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Inclusive Excellence, Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology
& the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Group on Women in Medicine and Sciences (GWIMS). 

It is no secret that beyond being underrepresented in STEM fields, women face added barriers to career progression when they become mothers: they are less likely to be hired, promoted, and more likely to drop out entirely. This is due to two main sources of bias: 1) the motherhood myths that insist that when women work, children suffer, and that mothers are less dedicated employees because of their inherently different sets of priorities; and 2) the ideal worker stereotypes that drive a lot of policies and practices in academic STEM fields and beyond. Dr. Neuilly will explain that diversifying our workforce will require we tackle these issues from multiple levels: as mothers in leadership roles and senior positions, we have responsibilities to make way for our more junior colleagues through leading by example, policy making, and changing the conversation.

Dr. Neuilly is the editor of  Mothering from the Field: The Impact of Motherhood on Site-Based Research, recently published by Rutgers University Press.

If you plan on participating, please RSVP to Laura DiFilippo (laura.difilippo@wsu.edu).

We are continuing our tradition of supporting women and children at Transitions, a nonprofit organization, and would love your support! If you would like to participate, please bring an unwrapped present. We will be delivering the donated items before Christmas to the charity organization. If you are unable to attend the event, there will also be two bins (with Wish List) located by the elevator on the 1st and 4th floors of PBS