Not all academics are treated equally

In the early decades of the last century, a group of men founded the academic society to which I belong. The wife of one of these men, who was just as involved and competent in the research area as her male counterparts, listened to these men discuss this new initiative through a closed door; she was not allowed to witness or participate in the discussion, nor was she offered membership because her inclusion would stain the endeavour as “women’s work” and the field therefore would not be taken seriously by (presumably) other male academics. Fast-forward almost 100 years, and not only is my field full of women scholars, but one holds the title of president of this same society – and she is not the first. It seems, then, that things have changed drastically, and — for women —for the better. However, I would argue that there are still big challenges facing women in academe that should have been eradicated a long time ago.  

At one time, elementary and high school teachers were highly valued members of society: respected, well-paid and considered community leaders. They were also, overwhelmingly, white and male. When women started going into teaching in larger numbers, things changed. Women were seen more as caregivers and stand-in babysitters. Teaching started to lose its cachet, its respect and its high remuneration. The same thing has occurred in medicine, especially for family physicians.  

Something similar could be said to have happened at the postsecondary level. Fifty years ago, male professors had personal secretaries provided by their institutions, and more often than not, wives at home who took care of entertaining, childrearing and domestic duties. With second wave feminism, things started to change. Thirty years ago, women were in the minority in graduate schools, but policies were put in place to promote equity. Now, most of my colleagues are women, including full professors, endowed chairs, Canada Research Chairs and administrators; very few of them have administrative assistants. “You’ve come a long way, baby,” as the 1970s cigarette ad reminded us. Despite this progress, I still hear a lot of anecdotal evidence that women continue to be treated inequitably.  

Take the scholar who found out that her male colleague with the same experience was making $10,000 more a year. When she questioned her department chair, he said, “Well, he has a mortgage to pay and a family to support,” not once wondering who was paying her mortgage. 

Two of my friends from graduate school years found topics they loved and advisers who were the ideal match. Too bad that each of these married, male advisers soon declared that they were in love with the advisees, causing the female students to find another adviser and another topic while not endangering their careers. This is a problem that has been going on for decades.  

If you are a woman in academe, you may notice that you are often asked to do more service, but not the kind that improves your CV: birthday party planning, hosting the faculty potluck, advising more students, etc. Male academics often flat out refuse to take on this sort of emotional labour. And, although I see a lot more men stepping up to the plate when it comes to raising children, I still rarely see a man’s CV that lists having children as an acceptable “interruption of career.” It’s not that this isn’t a reasonable request, but men don’t put this on their CV because raising children simply doesn’t interrupt their careers at all.  

I think with sexual harassment and equity policies, things have improved; I won’t deny that. However, I think that women have to take matters more into their own hands, because no one will do it for them. Say “no.” Prioritize your needs, wants, and desires, both in your personal and professional lives. You won’t get fired and your partner won’t leave you. Your children will still love you. But face it, at the end of your career, no one will thank you for having listened to more students crying in your office or for deferring to what your colleagues or department chair want you to do for them. You will only have the work, the product of your mind, heart and soul. Remember that that’s why you’re here, isn’t it?