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How parenthood contributes to gender gaps in academia
Xiang Zheng1, Haimiao Yuan2, Chaoqun Ni1
1Information School, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.
Elife
|July 13, 2022
Summary
Parenthood, not gender alone, drives academic achievement gaps. Mothers face more work-family conflict and less partner support, widening these disparities. Addressing these issues is key to gender equity in academia.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of Science
- Gender Studies
- Academic Careers
Background:
- Parenthood is linked to gender disparities in academic careers.
- The specific mechanisms driving these disparities remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze gender differences in academic achievement related to parenthood.
- To explore the impact of work-family conflict and partner support on these gender gaps.
Main Methods:
- Survey data from 7,764 North American academics.
- Publication data from Web of Science.
- Analysis of gender differences in parenthood and academic achievements.
Main Results:
- Gender gaps in academic achievement were significant in the parent group but not the non-parent group.
- Mothers reported higher work-family conflict and lower partner support than fathers.
- These factors significantly contributed to achievement gaps among parents.
Conclusions:
- Academic achievement gaps are primarily "parenthood gender gaps."
- Interventions should focus on supporting parents, particularly mothers, to mitigate work-family conflict and enhance partner support.
- Reducing these gaps is crucial for achieving gender equity in academia.
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