GLOBAL WOMEN’S BREAKFAST S&T: FROM DIALOGUE TO ACTION

PREGNANCY AND LAB WORK

‘Working with chemical or biological substances and planning a pregnancy are difficult to combine, and this affects academic careers.’

Participants indicated that it is often difficult to obtain clarity about risks, responsibilities and available support. Many pregnant employees sometimes feel compelled to set their own boundaries, even when this causes tension with managers.

Early guidance, for example, from HR or an independent advisor, can help to manage expectations and establish safe working arrangements. Even after returning to the laboratory, it remains important to pay attention to exposure to harmful substances.

MOTHERHOOD AND ACADEMIC CAREERS

“Motherhood and a successful academic career are formally compatible, but informally still very difficult.”

Although formal arrangements provide scope for parenthood, many scientists find that implicit expectations regarding availability, mobility and productivity make it difficult to combine the two. Sometimes, planning to start a family is approached strategically in order to minimise the impact on one's academic career, which reinforces the feeling that there is “no right time”.

The distribution of care responsibilities also often appears to be unequal: women take on extra work, while men have formal leave but in practice are less likely to take full advantage of it. The lack of practical facilities and support, such as childcare or assistance for international staff, further increases inequality.

CARE AND FLEXIBILITY AS A JOINT RESPONSIBILITY

“As long as care and flexibility are primarily seen as 'women's issues', structural changes will remain limited.

The conversation revealed that care and flexibility are often seen as individual responsibilities, especially for women. The mental load of organising work, care and family remains with them, partly due to implicit assumptions about who naturally takes on certain tasks.

Change requires a culture in which care and flexibility are shared within teams. Managers play a key role in this by creating space, setting a good example and explicitly normalising care for both women and men.

UNCONSCIOUS BIASES

“Unconscious biases play a significant role in academic careers, even in systems that strive for objectivity and excellence.”

Unconscious biases and patterns can become normalised, making inequality less visible. Consciously seeking out other perspectives helps to recognise these mechanisms and make them discussable. Reflection and awareness are not only individual responsibilities, but also a shared responsibility of teams and leadership.

An important goal of the breakfast meeting was to gather concrete and feasible ideas. Participants' input will be collected anonymously and incorporated into TNW's further policy development.

With this meeting, TNW emphasises the importance of an inclusive working environment in which talent is retained and scientists are given the space to make conscious choices in their careers.