By Dr. Melody Glenn
Ultimately, I resigned and accepted a lower-paying job as an assistant professor, a role more often held by women. Because there wasn鈥檛 a big, dramatic event that pushed me out of my role, I felt like a statistic, further proof that women鈥攅specially mothers鈥攁ren鈥檛 suitable leaders. But according to researcher Renate Ysseldyk, my experience was not unique; this was the exact pattern that preceded the departure of so many women from academics. Isabel Torres, the cofounder and chief executive of Mothers in Science, explained that because the obstacles facing mothers in STEM are largely invisible, women, as well as those around them, assume that all it takes to succeed is hard work and determination. So, when a woman finally chooses to walk away from the fallout of systemic failings, it is framed as a personal decision.
Almost immediately, my life was markedly easier. No longer pushing against the status quo, my job was less of a struggle. I was happier, both at work and at home. My health improved. Yet, part of me felt like I had abandoned the women I wanted to serve. I tried to assuage my guilt by telling myself that I could affect more change from a more supported role. And while that has been true, we still need more women in leadership roles.