Continuity or Change? Gender, Family, and Academic Work for Junior Faculty in Ontario Universities

Abstract

Over the past 40 or so years, women’s share of faculty positions in Canada and elsewhere has increased considerably, if not yet reaching parity. Yet working in the gendered university remains problematic. This article uses data from a qualitative research project in which 38 junior academics were interviewed about their responses to being on the tenure-track and being reviewed for tenure. Participants also talked about work–family issues and how they distributed their efforts among research, teaching, and service responsibilities. Both women and men made career decisions based on family needs, and two women and four men had taken parental leaves. While there were signs of changing norms around family matters, women were still overloaded with service roles at work. The article looks at the results in light of the contradictory nature of social change and gender roles within university work.