You're assuming that these women wanted to be working. I don't think that's a safe assumption. I think it's a valid assumption for some, but I'm doubtful it's true for more than half.
As long as we're in the realm of idle speculation, consider: Perhaps *all* of the women wanted to work. They all went through an expensive, difficult, and lengthy training process. However, perhaps some of them realized they wanted something else more, or even though they wanted to work, they found working untenable.
When my daughter is sick and has to stay home, my husband can't get time off because (in part) taking care of sick kids is wifely work. He's lucky that I'm an academic and have a bit of a flexible schedule, but suppose we both had inflexible jobs? Why should it be (statistically) my duty to take care of our daughter? Why should it be my duty to explain -- again -- to my boss that I can't work late every night because someone needs to be home? I want to work, but I don't want to be squeezed by an increasingly irate boss. Perhaps it would be simpler to stop working.
Why is it that kids pre-tenure are an advantage to men in my field, but a disadvantage to women?
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-05-02 06:53 pm (UTC)As long as we're in the realm of idle speculation, consider: Perhaps *all* of the women wanted to work. They all went through an expensive, difficult, and lengthy training process. However, perhaps some of them realized they wanted something else more, or even though they wanted to work, they found working untenable.
When my daughter is sick and has to stay home, my husband can't get time off because (in part) taking care of sick kids is wifely work. He's lucky that I'm an academic and have a bit of a flexible schedule, but suppose we both had inflexible jobs? Why should it be (statistically) my duty to take care of our daughter? Why should it be my duty to explain -- again -- to my boss that I can't work late every night because someone needs to be home? I want to work, but I don't want to be squeezed by an increasingly irate boss. Perhaps it would be simpler to stop working.
Why is it that kids pre-tenure are an advantage to men in my field, but a disadvantage to women?