"Through the voices of those who have weathered the storm, Mama, PhD provides invaluable lessons for young scholars-both men and women-striving to ...
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Feb 15, 2012
My first reaction to Mama, PhD, a provocative collection of 35 personal essays and commentaries by 42 women about motherhood and academic life, was a powerful desire to tell my own story. Edited by Elrena Evans and Caroline Grant, the book features deeply personal and engaging essays that bring to life many facets of this topic: the internal fracturing that comes with considering whether or not to have a child, vivid descriptions of the body's blossoming during pregnancy, poignant accounts of ho
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Aug 08, 2011
A thought provoking book, that brings up common themes: (1) most academics don't know how to deal with people with babies and (2) babies are way harder than you think before you get pregnant. I was disappointed that so few of the essays were written by women who successfully combined motherhood and academia. Amen to this quote (actually taken from another paper, Drago & Williams, 2000): “We should stop measuring commitment by the ability of an academic to have a spouse ready, willing, and able t
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Apr 18, 2009
Elevate Difference
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At the beginning of the second year of my MA program in English, I found out that one of my advisors was pregnant. I’ll never forget what she said to me: “You know, you would think that academia would be a supportive place to have a kid. It’s so not.” She was a then-junior faculty member, and would put off going up for tenure for two years.
When I started reading the individual essays in Mama PhD, I realized that my advisor’s story was the rule rather than the exception. The collection More...
When I started reading the individual essays in Mama PhD, I realized that my advisor’s story was the rule rather than the exception. The collection More...
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May 03, 2009
Ladan
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Really enjoyed Angelica Duran's uplifting, well-rounded essay. Quick Milton quote from Of Education: "In those vernal seasons of the year when the air is calm and pleasant, it were an injury and sullenness against nature not to go out and see her riches and partake in her rejoicing with heaven and earth." (86)
"As mothers and as academics, we need to consciously shrug off the feelings of failure, the sense of ourselves being under intense scrutiny and always found lacki More...
"As mothers and as academics, we need to consciously shrug off the feelings of failure, the sense of ourselves being under intense scrutiny and always found lacki More...
Jan 11, 2010
Shalinee
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Collection of experiences/thoughts of women in academics regarding motherhood. Found it very humanities-centric, which is probably fair given the dismal number of female academics outside of humanities and social sciences. Related with only one of the contributors who saw and maintained a balance between tenure and family for years, but then she decided to give up academics for freelance writing. Could have appreciate a few more "positive" stories (the one that's in there is insanely
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Jul 24, 2010
Sasha
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This book is at times encouraging and at times depressing. I am a PhD in a tenure track position with two small kids. I moved myself out of the US system and into the European system and when I shared this book with one of my European colleagues who was pregnant she read it and returned it to me with the comment "god I am glad I don't work in the US". So there are definitely essays in here that are hard to read. But mostly I found it nice to identify with other people in similar work-l
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Dec 04, 2011
Asho
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If anything, this book simply drove home a suspicion I have had since joining a PhD program at a major research university: motherhood and the tenure track are not compatible. Although the essays were insightful, I was hoping for a more uplifting collection. It's depressing how few of the women represented seem to satisfactorily juggle parenting and academia. It seems like the essay writers either gave up or vastly modified their academic careers to suit family life, or gave up spending time wit
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Jul 16, 2008
Elizabeth
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This is a thought-provoking and highly readable collection of essays on a topic that has been, to date, woefully under-represented. I'm guilty of this myself, having gotten my BA and departed the academic world never to look back. Though I had friends negotiating the tenuous road through dissertations and job applications, I never realized the myriad of obstacles, from emotional to financial to prejudicial, that faced women on this road, most particularly women thinking about having children.
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Aug 26, 2010
Annie
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Mixed feelings about this one--probably *not* because of the book itself but because of the stark reality it represents of trying to succeed in academia as a mother. It discouraged, rather than inspired, me and I was really hoping to be inspired.
Still, the essays are very well-written and provide a sense of solidarity that there are others experiencing the same roller coaster ride.
Still, the essays are very well-written and provide a sense of solidarity that there are others experiencing the same roller coaster ride.
Mar 27, 2010
Dayspring
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This collection of short essays from women attempting to balance family and academic life is simultaneously affirming, infuriating, inspiring, and depressing. Although colleges and universities tout the growth in numbers of female faculty over the years, little seems to have changed in the culture of academia to bridge connections between the mind and body, and to support faculty as holistic beings.
If you're looking for an inspiring book that will leave you feeling like "yes, More...
If you're looking for an inspiring book that will leave you feeling like "yes, More...
May 08, 2009
Kim
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This collection of different women's stories of being moms and academics (sometimes former) is at turns amusing, frustrating, inspiring, and downright depressing. I really like the "momifesto" near the end, and might copy that out for future reference. Mostly a "fun" read, with a few felicitous good-ideas-to-steal moments and a few righteous anger moments, too...
Feb 27, 2011
Joanna
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This book is fantastic. As a woman who is navigating between a non-traditional academic career and raising small toddlers, I found this book inspiring. I really like the way that many paths are presented in a way that is extremely respectful of women's choices--whether it's staying at home completely, or pursuing a tenure-track careers while raising children. I became teary-eyed more than once reading these beautiful essays, and thinking about the intersections in my own life between scholars
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May 06, 2009
Kristen
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Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this book since kids aren't in the near future and I've been a bit down on my dissertation. But, honestly, this book seemed like a bunch of whining.
Writing a dissertation is hard. Getting a tenure is hard. Trying to succeed in a world filled with men is hard. And while these things are most definitely made harder when you choose to have children, I still have a bit of "get over it" going on.
But the book was worthwhile to alert More...
Writing a dissertation is hard. Getting a tenure is hard. Trying to succeed in a world filled with men is hard. And while these things are most definitely made harder when you choose to have children, I still have a bit of "get over it" going on.
But the book was worthwhile to alert More...
Jul 05, 2009
Zoe
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What I learned from this book: Having a family and a career is ridiculously hard, so give these ladies some respect. Also, the academy is about the MIND and family is about the BODY. Pretty much every essay touched on that dichotomy. I really enjoyed this collection, but it left me feeling a deflated.
Jul 27, 2008
Suzanne
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Although I am not an academic, (I teach as an adjunct and have occasional fantasies about becoming a professor), I found this book highly engaging. Who knew that the academy, that last bastion of liberal arts, was so conservative? The writers offer up stories of trying to accomodate both scholarship and motherhood - and occasionally giving up, as well as tips on how to deal with colleagues and antiquated policies regarding maternity leave and childcare, and ideas on how everything could be bet
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Feb 27, 2011
Lara
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This book is a must-read for anyone in graduate school or academia who has already started a family or is contemplating doing so. I identified with many of the experiences these women describe, and it is thoroughly comforting to be reminded that the mind/body conflict is one that is widespread, yet manageable.
Jun 22, 2009
Adrienne
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A great collection (including one by a UR faculty member) of women who have balanced life in "the academy" with motherhood. I think it's relevant to all lines of work and the pressures of being a mom/successful career woman.
Jul 14, 2009
Kimberly
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An eye opener. Who knew the life of an academic was so demanding? As for finding life as a mother demanding? They're preaching to the choir here.
Aug 12, 2009
This book is so wonderful! It's quite validating for me right now and makes me feel not so alone!
Feb 27, 2011
Agnes
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I love the personal stories in this book. Fantastic for those negotiating parenting and study, and also valuable for early career academics. I keep this on my bookshelf in my office and pick it up when I am feeling ambivalent (about motherhood or academia). I also subscribe to the great MamaPhD blog. There's a Papa PhD book out now too...
Mar 02, 2009
Jenny
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I was hoping for a book of essays that was all, "YES! You can do this. Women make different decisions with their PhD, but there is support out there and it works out." Instead it is more, "Life is tough, but you'll make it through. Good luck."
Less inspirational; more you-are-not-the-only-one-going-through-it.
Less inspirational; more you-are-not-the-only-one-going-through-it.
Nov 21, 2010
Dayna
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This book gave me a lot to think about. It is a fascinating collection of essays by women in various stages on the road to tenure and motherhood. It gave me pause in regards to my own ambition to get a PhD because it brought up some of the difficulties of trying to balance the two worlds.
Jun 22, 2011
Jamie
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This was a relatively varied look at the post doctorate world for mothers. As someone who is a mother and going back to get her PhD, this is a very discouraging text. I am hoping my experience isn't as dreadful and I don't end up as bitter as many of these writers.
Oct 27, 2008
Jennifer
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Some of these essays are depressing, but they are helping me manage the transition from just professor to mother and professor. (Thanks, Kerry, for this gift!)
May 31, 2009
Kristy
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Excellent book, well written pieces by various women on their experiences and struggles in both acedemia (mainly Phd programs) and with children.
Aug 27, 2008
Veronica
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I am reading this as a part of a MotherTalk book blog tour. Stay tuned!
Jul 29, 2009
Lisa
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I too remember being asked when I got pregnant in graduate school if I had done that ON PURPOSE? in this tone of incredulity that no font can represent... a book that's depressing on an epic level... but all very true...
Feb 15, 2012
