Popis: |
Most staff and students at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Oslo University want gender equality, both in the workplace and in their private lives. Yet, since they also assume that academia is a meritocracy, the faculty’s gender imbalance is seen as a result of women and men making different choices. Above all, the vertical gender balance, with more men at the top and in leadership positions, is explained by the fact that women prioritize children and family over an academic career. Our quantitative and qualitative data, however, refute the explanation that women deliberately opt out of an academic career in favour of active parenting. Instead, we show that more women than men have failed to fulfil their own career ambitions. On the other hand, we also note that the potential to combine work and family are different for women and men. |