And now, this creative suggestion…
From this week’s Letters to the Editor in Science:
The data-driven conclusion is that women, even in higher-income brackets, tend to be married to men that make even more money on average than they do. This economic differential makes it unlikely that, when it comes time to raise children, the husband will be the one to stay home with the children. If we are really serious about recruiting women to academia, we must give female scientists honest advice. Perhaps rather than reflexively blaming every gender difference on "bias," we should be telling women to marry a man who makes less money than she does. It may be strong medicine, but recruiting the best talent demands that we examine all of the potential causes of gender imbalance.
–George Gordon Roberts, Department of Physiology, Wayne State University
(Bold emphasis mine.)
The author received his Ph.D. in 2005. I wonder if he followed his own advice? George, if you ever happen upon this page, we will be curious to hear whether you have found a suitable spouse that makes less money than you do.
My wife, a non-scientist, makes more $$ than I do.
Perhaps the real lesson is that scientists should be paid at rates greater or equal to professional degree-holders in fields with similar educational requirements.
Comment by Lab Lemming — November 2, 2006 @ 9:47 pm
The author received his Ph.D. in 2005.
I wonder how. Unless, of course, he is more careful about evidence and analysis at the bench than when he is dashing off “look at meeee, I’m so brave” letters.
Comment by Bill — November 3, 2006 @ 3:32 pm
Um, don’t you mean to challenge George to marry a woman who makes *more* than he does?
Comment by Anonymous — November 3, 2006 @ 7:57 pm
This is not particularly mature, but I think I would enjoy the prospect of George Roberts being interviewed by an all-female search committee. My department has all-male search committees, so why not?
Comment by FemaleScienceProfessor — November 3, 2006 @ 8:48 pm
Where do these people come from?! I’m married to man who makes less than I do as a post-doc and let me tell you that it doesn’t make me any more likely to succeed in academia. If anything, it makes me more likely to bail out and go into (better paying) industry so that we can survive financially.
Comment by sciencewoman — November 3, 2006 @ 9:52 pm
George Gordon Roberts is a fricking moron whose shoes ought to be liberally puked upon. I think women ought to marry men who make buttloads of money so that they can afford top-notch child care whenever they need it. That’s if they can’t arrange to be independently wealthy.
Or, hey, maybe we could just come up with a SOCIETAL solution to the whole childcare issue. You know, like assuming that we as a society are responsible for raising the next generation and we should have high quality day care available for everyone so that everyone can have kids and do their jobs.
Oh crap, what the hell am I thinking. Do I want us to be like communist Russia? Do I want the terrorists to win? Why do I hate America so much? If a woman chooses to get pregnant that’s her own problem, right? God bless America.
Comment by Zuska — November 12, 2006 @ 6:07 am
Here’s a piece of honest advice for women scientists: don’t marry George Gordon Roberts.
Comment by Zuska — November 12, 2006 @ 6:08 am
Zuska says:
“If a woman chooses to get pregnant…”
You want to give her a choice? What kinda godless, pinko, blue state terrorist are you?
Comment by Lab Lemming — November 13, 2006 @ 4:43 am
I was happy they decided to include this ‘response’ to the article. It demonstrates exactly what kind of positions women in academia face. The G.G. Roberts of the world feel that the best way to address the gender biases in childcare responsibilities and payscales is to tell women to just accept them and reinforce the biases by ‘leaving the career path for the homefront’ or instead choose to ‘commit to the long hours it takes to make it to the top’ by not having children. I personally prefer to ask the question, “Why can’t I do both and be paid the same as the man in the same position, with fewer responsibilities but with less than or equivalent to the honors, publications, and abilities?” I also prefer to ask the question, “Why am I expected to choose between reproducing biologically and having a career?” Men are not expected to make this choice and I flat out tired of being asked to make it myself.
Comment by Furchild — November 13, 2006 @ 7:04 pm
Oh my gosh, I saw this in Science and just rolled my eyes… yeah, it’s hard enough to find a partner when you’re working >50 hour weeks… when I do manage to get a date I’m going to start it off comparing salaries….
Comment by amIawomanscientist — December 4, 2006 @ 8:07 pm