ABSTRACT
Motherhood, in the author’s experience, intensified both the individual and institutional sexism that she have experienced, given the complex interplay between social expectations of motherhood with outdated work expectations. If more women are to become academic leaders, we not only have to get them into the academy but also keep them there, particularly through one of the toughest periods of time for women, the pre-tenure/motherhood years. The author’s leadership has been questioned to the extent of being offered leadership conferences to attend so she can "learn" to be a leader, as if there is only one way to lead. To make any change in the academy that promotes mothers staying in the academy and promotes female leadership requires that we first need to keep women from leaving the academy. Traveling to conferences is an expectation in the academy. Beyond what mothers need to thrive in academia, we need to talk about what they bring to the institution.
