RESEARCH

Parenthood is a major life event that can have profound effects on a person’s life, including their academic career. For many individuals in academia, the question of when and if to have children is a complex one, as balancing parenting responsibilities with academic demands can be challenging. There is evidence to suggest that parenthood can have different effects on mothers and fathers in academia, with mothers often facing greater barriers to success. However, recent research suggests that both mothers and fathers may experience similar negative impacts on their productivity and social capital [DCvL+22].

For mothers in academia, parenthood has been shown to have significant effects on their academic productivity, with some studies suggesting that mothers face a “motherhood penalty” in terms of their research output, grant funding, and advancement in their careers [CBP07, DCvL+22]. This penalty may be due to the fact that women (in academia or not) are often expected to take on the majority of care-giving responsibilities, which can lead to decreased time and energy for their academic work [SWWW16]. Additionally, mothers in academia often face institutional barriers, such as lack of flexible work arrangements and flexibility stigma which can make it difficult for them to balance their responsibilities as both a parent and a researcher [TBL99, Chu20].

For fathers in academia, the effects of parenthood are less well understood, but some studies suggest that they may experience a “fatherhood bonus” in terms of their academic careers [Sal13]. This bonus may be due to the perception that fathers are committed to their careers, and are therefore seen as more competent and deserving of advancement. However, as fathers take on more care-giving responsibilities, they may also experience some of the same challenges as mothers in terms of balancing their academic and parenting responsibilities [DCvL+22, SWWW16, RRG+12].

The best time to have children while also being in academia is a subjective and individual decision that will vary depending on many factors, such as a person’s career stage, workload, and support network. Some individuals may choose to have children early in their academic careers, while others may wait until they have established themselves in the academic ladder [SRKE04, SPLR09]. Regardless of when individuals decide to have children, it is important to overcome the stigma surrounding parenthood in academia, and academic institutions must provide greater support and resources for academic parents. This may include offering flexible work arrangements, creating supportive networks of academic parents, implementing family-friendly policies such as providing financial support for childcare, and accessible childcare options at the workplace and conferences [Wil20, FDB+21].

Despite a growing body of literature on the impact of parenthood on various aspects of academics [MWH+21, MC22, MLL+22, HMR19, DKPS22, VEBB21, DTJHE21, LMO12, Per01], and their strategies to succeed [LK22, GL19], there remains a significant gap in understanding the effects on academic performance. While some studies suggest that having children can lead to lower productivity, others argue that it may have no impact or even positive effects. Furthermore, the impact of parenthood on academic performance can vary depending on gender, with previous research indicating that mothers face more significant challenges compared to fathers. Additionally, the relationship between parenthood and academic performance may also vary across different career stages and disciplines. Therefore, more research is needed to better understand the complex interplay between parenthood and academic performance, including the role of gender, career stage, and discipline. This will help to address the gap in knowledge and provide evidence-based guidance to academic institutions and individual academics.

In conclusion, parenthood can have a significant impact on an individual’s career in academia, with mothers and fathers experiencing different challenges and benefits. To support academic parents, institutions must provide greater support and create a more inclusive and supportive culture for academic parents.