| By: |
Lutter, Mark;
Schröder, Martin |
| Abstract: |
Based on data that tracks CV and publication records as well as survey
information from sociologists in German academia, we examine the effects of
parenthood on the publication output of male and female academics. Results
indicate that having children leads to a significant decline in the number of
publications by women, while not affecting the number of publications by men.
We also find that the gendered effect of children on productivity hardly
mitigates differences in publication output between men and women, as women
still publish about 20 percent less than men after controlling for the adverse
effects of children on productivity. We further find that the gendered effect
of childbearing depends partly on prior levels of women's academic
achievements, which suggests mechanisms of performance-driven self-selection.
Lower-performing women tend to suffer a stronger motherhood penalty, while the
publication output of more successful women (who have been granted academic
awards) is not reduced through childbirth. The results indicate that women are
better at managing the 'double burden' of parenthood and career if external,
award-giving committees have bestowed prestige upon them and indicated their
potential for a scientific career. Overall, these findings contribute to a
better understanding of how to reduce the adverse effect of children on female
publication output. |
| Keywords: |
academic career,academic publications,children,gender gap,motherhood penalty,Benachteiligung von Müttern,Geschlecht,Kinder,wissenschaftliche Karrieren,wissenschaftliche Publikationen |
| Date: |
2019 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:mpifgd:192&r=all |