Complaints and climate of fear

There are times when people I know have had cause to complain to senior management about inequitable practice and behaviour.  Have you spoken out? how were you treated?  have your concerns been or addressed or were they dismissed? is it made too difficult for you too speak out? are you afraid of what will happen if you do?

Public school chess

In my Uni the senior management team are all men. they are all white.  I suspect most of them have Oxbridge backgrounds. and as one of them leaves, another identical one replaces them.  is it the same where you are? can we break these cycles of exclusion?

Applications procedures

I've just come out of a meeting where application procedures have meant that we have lost some really good female applicants. they didn't fit the boxes our institution requires them to tick.  Isn't it the case that there is something wrong with the procedures, rather than the candidates?

Short term contracts

A friend of mine is on a short term contract. she is expected to teach enormous hours, carry out a full admin load. she is given no mentoring or support or research advice. and her research is something that she does in her spare time. she has to do this if she wants to compete on the job market.  Short term, temporary contracts are usually exploitative and in the interests of the institution.  But is there an inequality dimension to this too?

Academic culture

An insightful article by Elaine Swan   recently discussed 'white male ignorance'.  It suggested that 'ignoring' was in itself an act; an act which was particularly linked with whiteness and masculinity.  This act of ignoring can become embedded in structures, to the point where it becomes hegemonic.  Do you notice these acts of ignoring? what effect does it have on you?

Working hours

Many people I know are regularly excluded from 'after hours' activities such as research seminars, external speakers and other public events as they have a child/children, and a life, outside of academia.  Academia seems to rest on the assumption that the 'wives' are at home cooking the tea, looking after the family.  Family life is something which is the role of women, not academics (and by implication not academic women). Has this issue affected you?

Career advice

My friend, with a full REF return was recently told she needed to develop a research reputation(!!) have you been told that you don't meet promotion criteria but don't know what they are? Have you been told you have no career in academia? what kind of career advice have you been given?
 

selection panels and quotas

Quotas are an intensely debated topic.  However, I believe that one way to address the many issues raised by the existence of women-only shortlists, is to suggest instead women only selection panels.  If women write the selection criteria and conduct the interview - I think this will help to re-dress some of the imbalances that exist - it would definitely help in my own insitution.

What do you think?

Babies

I have heard many stories of pregnant women being told to think about how having a baby will affect their career. Sound familiar? tell your story here...

Promotion

My friend is leaving for a Chair at another uni. They can't wait for her to get there. She's leaving after years of being passed over for promotion. Sound familiar? Tell your story here