Monday’s Food for Thought: Having It All?

I know many of you have come across the recently posted article by Anne-Marie Slaughter in The Atlantic, entitled “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All”.  It seems this piece went viral last week and I have had several interesting conversations revolving around it’s contents.  Slaughter takes a look at several ‘half truths’ that women have been telling younger generations and basically says they are lies that have to be re-thought in order for women to ever somewhat ‘have it all’ in the world today.

“It’s time to stop fooling ourselves… the women who have managed to be both mothers and top professionals are superhuman, rich, or self-employed. If we truly believe in equal opportunity for all women, here’s what has to change…”

Another piece I came across recently as well is this one entitled, “Why Women Leave Academia and Why Universities Should be Worried”, published in the Guardian.  Although not entirely related to the first, there is a lot of food for thought here and much room for conversation.

“Young women scientists leave academia in far greater numbers than men for three reasons. During their time as PhD candidates, large numbers of women conclude that (i) the characteristics of academic careers are unappealing, (ii) the impediments they will encounter are disproportionate, and (iii) the sacrifices they will have to make are great.”

What do you think about these two pieces?

What you have encountered personally?

-M.C.