The perils of juggling motherhood and academia

When Patty Ramirez became pregnant during her PhD she assumed she could ‘have it all’. The reality was far more stressful

Published on
June 4, 2015
Last updated
July 16, 2018
Patty Ramirez
Angus Greig illustration (4 June 2015)
Source: Angus Greig
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PhD, postgraduate and early career

POSTSCRIPT:

Article originally published as: Juggling childcare and a PhD made me quit academia for good (4 June 2015)

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Reader's comments (3)

#1 Submitted by CatPitt on June 4, 2015 - 10:58pm
Research Councils UK, are you listening? The Medical Research Council is willing to pay clinicians proper salaries to do a PhD, but imagines that others can survive on a stipend with no provisions for childcare. And then they're surprised by the continuing dearth of women in STEM / academia and the utter lack of diversity. Very nice piece reflecting on the realities for many. Good luck with your next steps, Patty!
#2 Submitted by stringd1 on June 8, 2015 - 3:37pm
Congratulations on passing your thesis but you have made the right choice, academia is not family friendly, the demands upon academics erode family time. Looking at those who have made it to the top, it is worthy of note that most are childless.
#3 Submitted by Dale Heywood on June 9, 2015 - 1:31pm
very sad but also very true and something I witnessed during my own PhD which I did as a mature single parent of 4 sons. It is also a waste of talent when PhDs walk away from academia so young and clearly talented. Good luck Patty

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