SlideShare una empresa de Scribd logo
1 de 32
Descargar para leer sin conexión
Alt-Ac Work and Gender:
It’s not Plan B
#mla14 #s757

@wynkenhimself, @m_steph_m, @amandafrench
http://bit.ly/altacgender
15%
employed in #altac
searching for #altac
neither

13%

72%
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
employed in or searching for #altac work
(53 responses)
children

gender

male
21%

2 or 3
15%
female
79%

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757

1
21%

4 or more
2%

0
62%
not employed in nor searching for
#altac work (8 responses)
gender

children

male
13%

0
38%
female
87%

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757

2 or 3
62%
“Did gender impact your decision to do
or to seek #altac work?”

yes
19%
no
47%
it's
complicated
34%

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac, ABD, no kids
“One of my reasons for pursuing #altac work
rather than the tenure track was wanting the
flexibility to have a child on my schedule, rather
than being subjected to the vagaries of the job
market and tenure process. I now have generous
maternity leave coverage and the flexibility to
have a child at any time; if I were to wait until I
was tenured, I'd be looking at getting pregnant 7-8
years from now, at close to 40.”

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
male #altac, one child
“My partner was pregnant (and completing her
own graduate studies) when I was finishing my
PhD. We made the decision that I needed to work
in order to support our growing family — taking the
time to secure a tenure-track faculty job just
wasn't in the cards when I had the option of
securing an #altac job and being able to focus on
the (financial, emotional) well being of my family.”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac, 2 kids

“My spouse didn't want to relocate when I was
looking for TT work (he had a high-paying job and I
didn't have any job offers) and then once we had
kids, a commuter marriage wasn't a good option.”

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female searching for #altac

“I have three young children and a husband who
would prefer I fulfill more traditional female
responsibilities in regards to household labor.”

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac, Master’s degree, one kid
“I wouldn't say that my gender limited the work I
could do but because I was a single mom at the
time, I had to take the most secure position that
was offered to me, even if it wasn't my dream job
in academia or something that would necessarily
keep my hand in that work, because I had to look
out for me and my kid.”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac
“I think gender was a factor in my dissatisfaction
with my previous job/employer. Lots of service
demands were placed on women faculty, who
were then less rewarded for being less
"productive." I wanted a role in which the things
that had been dismissed as service could instead
be recognized as leadership.”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac (STEM)
“Part of my work is in gender and racial equity in
academia and I felt that I could have more of an
immediate impact in an altac job, rather than to
slog away until I get tenure when I would then
have the freedom and power to advocate for
those issues. …
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac (STEM) cont’d.
“… Another consideration was that as a woman of
color (intersectionality alert!) given the
demographics of my field I figured that if I stayed
in academia I would be the first one in whatever
department I joined, and that just sounded
exhausting on top of all of the other pressures of
being a junior faculty member.”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac
“In high school and as an undergraduate, I
envisioned a career that would now be called altac, but was persuaded by school counselors,
academic advisors, and peers, that this would
somehow be settling for second best, and as a
woman, I'd be letting down the side if I didn't
follow the traditional PhD-to-Professor route. …
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac

“… Luckily for me, I broke free of this pressure
towards the end of writing my dissertation. My PhD
defense ended up being the same week I was
offered the alt-ac job I'd wanted since high school.”

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
“Are there gender-related issues that
impact your ability to do your work?”

no
39%

yes
34%

it's
complicated
27%
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
male #altac

“My profession is considered women's work.
Consequently it is paid far lower than other work in
City Government at similar educational levels.”

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac with PhD
“My research and alt-ac work is treated as
subsidiary to my male colleagues (e.g. my projects
are "community" projects whereas theirs are
"serious" research). The women in our offices are
asked to do the structural labor to make projects
and partnerships run but are expected to cede
the floor to male colleagues in presentations and
publications.”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac

“It's sometimes hard to know for sure, but I feel like
I get judged differently for having strong opinions
and a strong personality than male colleagues
are.”

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac with PhD
“As a librarian, I'm a woman in a majority-female,
service-oriented profession. It can be hard to get
regular faculty to take librarians seriously as
collaborators and colleagues (although,
thankfully, this isn't the case in my current
position).”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac
“I have to leave a little before 5 in order to get my
kid before her daycare closes. Even though I
come in early and don't take a lunch break,
because I leave before my boss does I feel like this
accumulates ill-will towards me, or creates the
impression that I'm not working hard even though I
work my full 8 hours, and then usually do a little
more once I get home.”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
other thoughts on gender and #altac

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female PhD with kids searching for #altac
“Currently, it seems that as a consequence of
reproductive labor still falling upon women,
particularly the physical components of
pregnancy, childbirth, etc., that women often
face challenges in regards to completing their PhD
in a reasonable time and then finding work that
permits flexibility.”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
male #altac, one child
“Before I took this role, my spouse and I were both
tenured professors at another university. Taking the
#altac job has actually exacerbated some
gender-related problems, since my time is now
much more conventionally structured than it once
was, and so it can *seem* easier to push domestic
stuff onto her, which isn't good.”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female, full-time faculty
“To a certain extent, alt-ac is beginning to look
more "family friendly" than a traditional academic
position, which is problematic in terms of the
make-up of the professoriate and who/where
women work within the system. And, can alt-ac
ever ascend into leadership positions that can
help reshape the academy?”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female #altac
“it may be more common for women to look
ahead and anticipate that academic work with a
partner (whether he or she is in academia or not)
can create significant personal and professional
strain; they may also more commonly be in the
position of being a "trailing spouse" in one way or
another. For both of these reasons, they (we) may
therefore "opt out" more readily than men.”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
male #altac, ABD

“In the University setting, as a man, obviously,
gender has not been as big an issue as the
class/caste divide of being an ABD. I'm a second
class citizen and was always treated like one, by
male and female faculty alike.”

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female searching for #altac
“Another reason that I am looking for alt-ac work is
that there are more possibilities for me than in my
field. There were 2 TT positions in my field last year
and both were over 1500 km from where I live. My
husband has a non-academic job at which he
earns the same or more than what these positions
would pay. It just wouldn't make sense for me to
take either position and move my family for a
chance to earn tenure. No thank you.”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
male PhD looking for #altac work

“As a white male, I'm operating from a distinct
position of privilege. Even so, it's a rough market
out there. I have been the primary care provider
for my children most of their lives (they're currently
four and nearly seven). I'm currently working parttime as a substitute teacher while continuing to
juggle kids and my job search.”
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
female graduate student with kids

“Shaming women for acknowledging our
responsibilities beyond academia has to stop, as
does the assumption that family responsibilities are
only the realm of women.”

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
#altac job holders
 library administration, curriculum support, graduate school
administrator, subject librarian, research center
administration, deputy secretary of the Faculty, DH center research
faculty, DH project manager, distance-learning support, DH
curator, director of a center for teaching and learning, online course
design, grants administration, graduate student professional
development, digital strategy at cultural heritage
institution, emerging technologies librarian, digital asset
management, editor for an online publication/social networking
platform at a scholarly society, software project manager, executive
director of a non-profit, IT administrator, web design
@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
Stay turned for a full report on the survey
at http://sarahwerner.net

@wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757

Más contenido relacionado

Destacado

Destacado (16)

Fire Safety Training (Updated)
Fire Safety Training (Updated)Fire Safety Training (Updated)
Fire Safety Training (Updated)
 
15 Tips For Home Fire Safety
15 Tips For Home  Fire Safety15 Tips For Home  Fire Safety
15 Tips For Home Fire Safety
 
Fire fighting
Fire fightingFire fighting
Fire fighting
 
Fire Fighting Theory
Fire Fighting TheoryFire Fighting Theory
Fire Fighting Theory
 
Indian architecture march 2011 8 10 yrs
Indian architecture march 2011 8 10 yrsIndian architecture march 2011 8 10 yrs
Indian architecture march 2011 8 10 yrs
 
Fire & safety training
Fire & safety trainingFire & safety training
Fire & safety training
 
Fire Safety Training by DOA Louisiana
Fire Safety Training by DOA LouisianaFire Safety Training by DOA Louisiana
Fire Safety Training by DOA Louisiana
 
Presentation on Total Productive Maintenance
Presentation on Total Productive MaintenancePresentation on Total Productive Maintenance
Presentation on Total Productive Maintenance
 
Fire Safety Awareness
Fire Safety AwarenessFire Safety Awareness
Fire Safety Awareness
 
Fire Safety Training
Fire Safety TrainingFire Safety Training
Fire Safety Training
 
Fire Safety Management
Fire Safety ManagementFire Safety Management
Fire Safety Management
 
Basics of Fire fighting
Basics of Fire fightingBasics of Fire fighting
Basics of Fire fighting
 
HVAC Sysems & AHU
HVAC Sysems & AHUHVAC Sysems & AHU
HVAC Sysems & AHU
 
Air conditioning system
Air conditioning systemAir conditioning system
Air conditioning system
 
Basic Fire Fighting Training
Basic Fire Fighting TrainingBasic Fire Fighting Training
Basic Fire Fighting Training
 
Fire fighting presentation
Fire  fighting presentationFire  fighting presentation
Fire fighting presentation
 

Similar a Alt-Ac Work and Gender (20)

Essay On I Am Malala
Essay On I Am MalalaEssay On I Am Malala
Essay On I Am Malala
 
RBS Waller
RBS WallerRBS Waller
RBS Waller
 
NASPA 2016 presentation
NASPA 2016 presentationNASPA 2016 presentation
NASPA 2016 presentation
 
Best College Admission Essay
Best College Admission EssayBest College Admission Essay
Best College Admission Essay
 
KVC Objectives
KVC ObjectivesKVC Objectives
KVC Objectives
 
Obstetrician Gynecologist Research Paper
Obstetrician Gynecologist Research PaperObstetrician Gynecologist Research Paper
Obstetrician Gynecologist Research Paper
 
Expectations And Expectations In Your Work
Expectations And Expectations In Your WorkExpectations And Expectations In Your Work
Expectations And Expectations In Your Work
 
What I Want To Be When I Grow Up
What I Want To Be When I Grow UpWhat I Want To Be When I Grow Up
What I Want To Be When I Grow Up
 
Wgs biography
Wgs biographyWgs biography
Wgs biography
 
Empathy map
Empathy mapEmpathy map
Empathy map
 
Samples for website_Freelance tab
Samples for website_Freelance tabSamples for website_Freelance tab
Samples for website_Freelance tab
 
Role Model Essays
Role Model EssaysRole Model Essays
Role Model Essays
 
WGS biography Project
WGS biography ProjectWGS biography Project
WGS biography Project
 
Revised wgs biography
Revised wgs biographyRevised wgs biography
Revised wgs biography
 
What I Want To Offer
What I Want To OfferWhat I Want To Offer
What I Want To Offer
 
Santa Clara University Essay Prompt
Santa Clara University Essay PromptSanta Clara University Essay Prompt
Santa Clara University Essay Prompt
 
Why I Chose The Career Path
Why I Chose The Career PathWhy I Chose The Career Path
Why I Chose The Career Path
 
Scholarship Essay Examples About Yourself
Scholarship Essay Examples About YourselfScholarship Essay Examples About Yourself
Scholarship Essay Examples About Yourself
 
Mind the Gap
Mind the GapMind the Gap
Mind the Gap
 
Inclusion Essay Example
Inclusion Essay ExampleInclusion Essay Example
Inclusion Essay Example
 

Último

ASDFSDFASDFASDFASDFOUIASHDFOIASUD FOIJSADO;IFJOISADJF
ASDFSDFASDFASDFASDFOUIASHDFOIASUD FOIJSADO;IFJOISADJFASDFSDFASDFASDFASDFOUIASHDFOIASUD FOIJSADO;IFJOISADJF
ASDFSDFASDFASDFASDFOUIASHDFOIASUD FOIJSADO;IFJOISADJFJulia Kaye
 
Chapter-4 Introduction to Global Distributions System and Computerized Reserv...
Chapter-4 Introduction to Global Distributions System and Computerized Reserv...Chapter-4 Introduction to Global Distributions System and Computerized Reserv...
Chapter-4 Introduction to Global Distributions System and Computerized Reserv...Md Shaifullar Rabbi
 
STORY OF SUSAN & JUDY - CEREBRAL PALSY.pptx
STORY OF SUSAN & JUDY - CEREBRAL PALSY.pptxSTORY OF SUSAN & JUDY - CEREBRAL PALSY.pptx
STORY OF SUSAN & JUDY - CEREBRAL PALSY.pptxsheenam bansal
 
Fireman Resume Strikuingly Text............................
Fireman Resume Strikuingly Text............................Fireman Resume Strikuingly Text............................
Fireman Resume Strikuingly Text............................calvinjamesmappala
 
reStartEvents March 28th TS/SCI & Above Employer Directory.pdf
reStartEvents March 28th TS/SCI & Above Employer Directory.pdfreStartEvents March 28th TS/SCI & Above Employer Directory.pdf
reStartEvents March 28th TS/SCI & Above Employer Directory.pdfKen Fuller
 
asdfasdiofujasloidfoia nslkflsdkaf jljffs
asdfasdiofujasloidfoia nslkflsdkaf jljffsasdfasdiofujasloidfoia nslkflsdkaf jljffs
asdfasdiofujasloidfoia nslkflsdkaf jljffsJulia Kaye
 
127. Reviewer Certificate in BP International
127. Reviewer Certificate in BP International127. Reviewer Certificate in BP International
127. Reviewer Certificate in BP InternationalManu Mitra
 
wealth_spend_bharatpeVerse_Analysis .pptx
wealth_spend_bharatpeVerse_Analysis .pptxwealth_spend_bharatpeVerse_Analysis .pptx
wealth_spend_bharatpeVerse_Analysis .pptxAnuragBhakuni4
 
Audhina Nur Afifah Resume & Portofolio_2024.pdf
Audhina Nur Afifah Resume & Portofolio_2024.pdfAudhina Nur Afifah Resume & Portofolio_2024.pdf
Audhina Nur Afifah Resume & Portofolio_2024.pdfaudhinafh1
 
FAHAD HASSAN NOOR || UCP Business School Data Analytics Head Recommended | MB...
FAHAD HASSAN NOOR || UCP Business School Data Analytics Head Recommended | MB...FAHAD HASSAN NOOR || UCP Business School Data Analytics Head Recommended | MB...
FAHAD HASSAN NOOR || UCP Business School Data Analytics Head Recommended | MB...FaHaD .H. NooR
 
Nashon Holloway - Media/Press Kit - Priv
Nashon Holloway - Media/Press Kit - PrivNashon Holloway - Media/Press Kit - Priv
Nashon Holloway - Media/Press Kit - PrivNashonHolloway
 
How to Host a Successful Webinar for Success?
How to Host a Successful Webinar for Success?How to Host a Successful Webinar for Success?
How to Host a Successful Webinar for Success?StrengthsTheatre
 
Moaaz Hassan El-Shayeb - Projects Portfolio
Moaaz Hassan El-Shayeb - Projects PortfolioMoaaz Hassan El-Shayeb - Projects Portfolio
Moaaz Hassan El-Shayeb - Projects Portfoliomoaaz el-shayeb
 
kids gpaddfghtggvgghhhuuuuuhhhgggggy.pptx
kids gpaddfghtggvgghhhuuuuuhhhgggggy.pptxkids gpaddfghtggvgghhhuuuuuhhhgggggy.pptx
kids gpaddfghtggvgghhhuuuuuhhhgggggy.pptxJagrutiSononee
 
10 Things That Will Shape the Future of Education.pdf
10 Things That Will Shape the Future of Education.pdf10 Things That Will Shape the Future of Education.pdf
10 Things That Will Shape the Future of Education.pdfEducationView
 
Chapter-1 IATA, UFTAA, ICAO, FAA, CAA, ATAB, Conventions
Chapter-1 IATA, UFTAA, ICAO, FAA, CAA, ATAB, ConventionsChapter-1 IATA, UFTAA, ICAO, FAA, CAA, ATAB, Conventions
Chapter-1 IATA, UFTAA, ICAO, FAA, CAA, ATAB, ConventionsMd Shaifullar Rabbi
 
Blockchain_TezosDeveloperCommunitySNSCE.pdf
Blockchain_TezosDeveloperCommunitySNSCE.pdfBlockchain_TezosDeveloperCommunitySNSCE.pdf
Blockchain_TezosDeveloperCommunitySNSCE.pdfVISHNURAJSSNSCEAD
 

Último (17)

ASDFSDFASDFASDFASDFOUIASHDFOIASUD FOIJSADO;IFJOISADJF
ASDFSDFASDFASDFASDFOUIASHDFOIASUD FOIJSADO;IFJOISADJFASDFSDFASDFASDFASDFOUIASHDFOIASUD FOIJSADO;IFJOISADJF
ASDFSDFASDFASDFASDFOUIASHDFOIASUD FOIJSADO;IFJOISADJF
 
Chapter-4 Introduction to Global Distributions System and Computerized Reserv...
Chapter-4 Introduction to Global Distributions System and Computerized Reserv...Chapter-4 Introduction to Global Distributions System and Computerized Reserv...
Chapter-4 Introduction to Global Distributions System and Computerized Reserv...
 
STORY OF SUSAN & JUDY - CEREBRAL PALSY.pptx
STORY OF SUSAN & JUDY - CEREBRAL PALSY.pptxSTORY OF SUSAN & JUDY - CEREBRAL PALSY.pptx
STORY OF SUSAN & JUDY - CEREBRAL PALSY.pptx
 
Fireman Resume Strikuingly Text............................
Fireman Resume Strikuingly Text............................Fireman Resume Strikuingly Text............................
Fireman Resume Strikuingly Text............................
 
reStartEvents March 28th TS/SCI & Above Employer Directory.pdf
reStartEvents March 28th TS/SCI & Above Employer Directory.pdfreStartEvents March 28th TS/SCI & Above Employer Directory.pdf
reStartEvents March 28th TS/SCI & Above Employer Directory.pdf
 
asdfasdiofujasloidfoia nslkflsdkaf jljffs
asdfasdiofujasloidfoia nslkflsdkaf jljffsasdfasdiofujasloidfoia nslkflsdkaf jljffs
asdfasdiofujasloidfoia nslkflsdkaf jljffs
 
127. Reviewer Certificate in BP International
127. Reviewer Certificate in BP International127. Reviewer Certificate in BP International
127. Reviewer Certificate in BP International
 
wealth_spend_bharatpeVerse_Analysis .pptx
wealth_spend_bharatpeVerse_Analysis .pptxwealth_spend_bharatpeVerse_Analysis .pptx
wealth_spend_bharatpeVerse_Analysis .pptx
 
Audhina Nur Afifah Resume & Portofolio_2024.pdf
Audhina Nur Afifah Resume & Portofolio_2024.pdfAudhina Nur Afifah Resume & Portofolio_2024.pdf
Audhina Nur Afifah Resume & Portofolio_2024.pdf
 
FAHAD HASSAN NOOR || UCP Business School Data Analytics Head Recommended | MB...
FAHAD HASSAN NOOR || UCP Business School Data Analytics Head Recommended | MB...FAHAD HASSAN NOOR || UCP Business School Data Analytics Head Recommended | MB...
FAHAD HASSAN NOOR || UCP Business School Data Analytics Head Recommended | MB...
 
Nashon Holloway - Media/Press Kit - Priv
Nashon Holloway - Media/Press Kit - PrivNashon Holloway - Media/Press Kit - Priv
Nashon Holloway - Media/Press Kit - Priv
 
How to Host a Successful Webinar for Success?
How to Host a Successful Webinar for Success?How to Host a Successful Webinar for Success?
How to Host a Successful Webinar for Success?
 
Moaaz Hassan El-Shayeb - Projects Portfolio
Moaaz Hassan El-Shayeb - Projects PortfolioMoaaz Hassan El-Shayeb - Projects Portfolio
Moaaz Hassan El-Shayeb - Projects Portfolio
 
kids gpaddfghtggvgghhhuuuuuhhhgggggy.pptx
kids gpaddfghtggvgghhhuuuuuhhhgggggy.pptxkids gpaddfghtggvgghhhuuuuuhhhgggggy.pptx
kids gpaddfghtggvgghhhuuuuuhhhgggggy.pptx
 
10 Things That Will Shape the Future of Education.pdf
10 Things That Will Shape the Future of Education.pdf10 Things That Will Shape the Future of Education.pdf
10 Things That Will Shape the Future of Education.pdf
 
Chapter-1 IATA, UFTAA, ICAO, FAA, CAA, ATAB, Conventions
Chapter-1 IATA, UFTAA, ICAO, FAA, CAA, ATAB, ConventionsChapter-1 IATA, UFTAA, ICAO, FAA, CAA, ATAB, Conventions
Chapter-1 IATA, UFTAA, ICAO, FAA, CAA, ATAB, Conventions
 
Blockchain_TezosDeveloperCommunitySNSCE.pdf
Blockchain_TezosDeveloperCommunitySNSCE.pdfBlockchain_TezosDeveloperCommunitySNSCE.pdf
Blockchain_TezosDeveloperCommunitySNSCE.pdf
 

Alt-Ac Work and Gender

  • 1. Alt-Ac Work and Gender: It’s not Plan B #mla14 #s757 @wynkenhimself, @m_steph_m, @amandafrench
  • 2. http://bit.ly/altacgender 15% employed in #altac searching for #altac neither 13% 72% @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 3. employed in or searching for #altac work (53 responses) children gender male 21% 2 or 3 15% female 79% @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757 1 21% 4 or more 2% 0 62%
  • 4. not employed in nor searching for #altac work (8 responses) gender children male 13% 0 38% female 87% @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757 2 or 3 62%
  • 5. “Did gender impact your decision to do or to seek #altac work?” yes 19% no 47% it's complicated 34% @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 6. female #altac, ABD, no kids “One of my reasons for pursuing #altac work rather than the tenure track was wanting the flexibility to have a child on my schedule, rather than being subjected to the vagaries of the job market and tenure process. I now have generous maternity leave coverage and the flexibility to have a child at any time; if I were to wait until I was tenured, I'd be looking at getting pregnant 7-8 years from now, at close to 40.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 7. male #altac, one child “My partner was pregnant (and completing her own graduate studies) when I was finishing my PhD. We made the decision that I needed to work in order to support our growing family — taking the time to secure a tenure-track faculty job just wasn't in the cards when I had the option of securing an #altac job and being able to focus on the (financial, emotional) well being of my family.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 8. female #altac, 2 kids “My spouse didn't want to relocate when I was looking for TT work (he had a high-paying job and I didn't have any job offers) and then once we had kids, a commuter marriage wasn't a good option.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 9. female searching for #altac “I have three young children and a husband who would prefer I fulfill more traditional female responsibilities in regards to household labor.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 10. female #altac, Master’s degree, one kid “I wouldn't say that my gender limited the work I could do but because I was a single mom at the time, I had to take the most secure position that was offered to me, even if it wasn't my dream job in academia or something that would necessarily keep my hand in that work, because I had to look out for me and my kid.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 11. female #altac “I think gender was a factor in my dissatisfaction with my previous job/employer. Lots of service demands were placed on women faculty, who were then less rewarded for being less "productive." I wanted a role in which the things that had been dismissed as service could instead be recognized as leadership.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 12. female #altac (STEM) “Part of my work is in gender and racial equity in academia and I felt that I could have more of an immediate impact in an altac job, rather than to slog away until I get tenure when I would then have the freedom and power to advocate for those issues. … @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 13. female #altac (STEM) cont’d. “… Another consideration was that as a woman of color (intersectionality alert!) given the demographics of my field I figured that if I stayed in academia I would be the first one in whatever department I joined, and that just sounded exhausting on top of all of the other pressures of being a junior faculty member.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 14. female #altac “In high school and as an undergraduate, I envisioned a career that would now be called altac, but was persuaded by school counselors, academic advisors, and peers, that this would somehow be settling for second best, and as a woman, I'd be letting down the side if I didn't follow the traditional PhD-to-Professor route. … @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 15. female #altac “… Luckily for me, I broke free of this pressure towards the end of writing my dissertation. My PhD defense ended up being the same week I was offered the alt-ac job I'd wanted since high school.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 16. “Are there gender-related issues that impact your ability to do your work?” no 39% yes 34% it's complicated 27% @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 17. male #altac “My profession is considered women's work. Consequently it is paid far lower than other work in City Government at similar educational levels.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 18. female #altac with PhD “My research and alt-ac work is treated as subsidiary to my male colleagues (e.g. my projects are "community" projects whereas theirs are "serious" research). The women in our offices are asked to do the structural labor to make projects and partnerships run but are expected to cede the floor to male colleagues in presentations and publications.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 19. female #altac “It's sometimes hard to know for sure, but I feel like I get judged differently for having strong opinions and a strong personality than male colleagues are.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 20. female #altac with PhD “As a librarian, I'm a woman in a majority-female, service-oriented profession. It can be hard to get regular faculty to take librarians seriously as collaborators and colleagues (although, thankfully, this isn't the case in my current position).” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 21. female #altac “I have to leave a little before 5 in order to get my kid before her daycare closes. Even though I come in early and don't take a lunch break, because I leave before my boss does I feel like this accumulates ill-will towards me, or creates the impression that I'm not working hard even though I work my full 8 hours, and then usually do a little more once I get home.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 22. other thoughts on gender and #altac @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 23. female PhD with kids searching for #altac “Currently, it seems that as a consequence of reproductive labor still falling upon women, particularly the physical components of pregnancy, childbirth, etc., that women often face challenges in regards to completing their PhD in a reasonable time and then finding work that permits flexibility.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 24. male #altac, one child “Before I took this role, my spouse and I were both tenured professors at another university. Taking the #altac job has actually exacerbated some gender-related problems, since my time is now much more conventionally structured than it once was, and so it can *seem* easier to push domestic stuff onto her, which isn't good.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 25. female, full-time faculty “To a certain extent, alt-ac is beginning to look more "family friendly" than a traditional academic position, which is problematic in terms of the make-up of the professoriate and who/where women work within the system. And, can alt-ac ever ascend into leadership positions that can help reshape the academy?” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 26. female #altac “it may be more common for women to look ahead and anticipate that academic work with a partner (whether he or she is in academia or not) can create significant personal and professional strain; they may also more commonly be in the position of being a "trailing spouse" in one way or another. For both of these reasons, they (we) may therefore "opt out" more readily than men.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 27. male #altac, ABD “In the University setting, as a man, obviously, gender has not been as big an issue as the class/caste divide of being an ABD. I'm a second class citizen and was always treated like one, by male and female faculty alike.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 28. female searching for #altac “Another reason that I am looking for alt-ac work is that there are more possibilities for me than in my field. There were 2 TT positions in my field last year and both were over 1500 km from where I live. My husband has a non-academic job at which he earns the same or more than what these positions would pay. It just wouldn't make sense for me to take either position and move my family for a chance to earn tenure. No thank you.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 29. male PhD looking for #altac work “As a white male, I'm operating from a distinct position of privilege. Even so, it's a rough market out there. I have been the primary care provider for my children most of their lives (they're currently four and nearly seven). I'm currently working parttime as a substitute teacher while continuing to juggle kids and my job search.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 30. female graduate student with kids “Shaming women for acknowledging our responsibilities beyond academia has to stop, as does the assumption that family responsibilities are only the realm of women.” @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 31. #altac job holders  library administration, curriculum support, graduate school administrator, subject librarian, research center administration, deputy secretary of the Faculty, DH center research faculty, DH project manager, distance-learning support, DH curator, director of a center for teaching and learning, online course design, grants administration, graduate student professional development, digital strategy at cultural heritage institution, emerging technologies librarian, digital asset management, editor for an online publication/social networking platform at a scholarly society, software project manager, executive director of a non-profit, IT administrator, web design @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757
  • 32. Stay turned for a full report on the survey at http://sarahwerner.net @wynkenhimself #mla14 #s757