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Women academics experiences of maternity leave in the neoliberal university: Unmasking governmentality

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  • Karen Jones
  • Alan Floyd

Abstract

Addressing a paucity of large‐scale studies about women academics maternity experiences of leave in academia and under‐theorizing the influence of neoliberalism on this phenomenon, this research provides one of the largest studies of women's experiences of maternity leave in the academic sector. Secondary analysis of a subset of data from a global online mixed method survey with 553 women academics (82% UK, 18% international) was undertaken to explore experiences and implications of maternity leave for women. The findings reveal that women academics continued to undertake core academic work duties during maternity leave such as writing grant applications and journal articles, supervising doctoral students, teaching, and responding to emails. We document four distinct orientations adopted by women during maternity leave that characterize neoliberal subjectivity and use Foucauldian governmentality to unmask the inculcation of such norms. Our analysis shows how neoliberal ideology has gained a hegemonic position in academia that leaves little space for maternity leave, resulting in many women effectively relinquishing their maternity rights to sustain academic productivity. We argue that neoliberalism and new managerialism within the academy undermine policies to support women's maternity rights. The findings of this study will be of interest to scholars and Human Resources professionals, academic mothers, managers, and policymakers who are championing change in the sector.

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  • Karen Jones & Alan Floyd, 2024. "Women academics experiences of maternity leave in the neoliberal university: Unmasking governmentality," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 92-114, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:31:y:2024:i:1:p:92-114
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.13059
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carol Colbeck, 2015. "Do Babies Matter? Gender and Family in the Ivory Tower," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 86(2), pages 326-329, March.
    2. Melanie Arntz & Stephan Dlugosz & Ralf A. Wilke, 2017. "The Sorting of Female Careers after First Birth: A Competing Risks Analysis of Maternity Leave Duration," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 79(5), pages 689-716, October.
    3. Joanna M. Davies & Lisa Jane Brighton & Florence Reedy & Sabrina Bajwah, 2022. "Maternity provision, contract status, and likelihood of returning to work: Evidence from research intensive universities in the UK," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 1495-1510, September.
    4. Colleen Flaherty Manchester & Lisa M. Leslie & Amit Kramer, 2010. "Stop the Clock Policies and Career Success in Academia," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 100(2), pages 219-223, May.
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