As I sit here writing a book chapter abstract about my research, it occurs to me how ridiculous it is that researchers like Ridgeway and Correll (2004) and Correll et al. (2007) have found that mothers are seen as less competent and committed in the workplace. Several participants mentioned to me that they were familiar with the research that mothers were seen as less competent. Therefore, many mothers tried to hide their status as mothers. If their motherhood status was something that couldnt be hidden, several engaged in overcompensation, trying to be the best and most visible graduate student so their status as mothers would not be held against them. That mothers would be considered less competent or less committed to graduate school when they are no doubt working harder and longer hours in order to meet demands that the traditional or ideal graduate student (i.e. the single white male) doesnt have to contend with, for me, is the ultimate example of one of the ways in which the academy serves to recreate an oppressive and patriarchal institution and contributes to feelings of alienation as well as feeling as though we are never able to meet everyones expectations of them as graduate students or as mothers
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 05:33:39 +0000
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