For the attention of the Equality and Diversity working group of the PSA
On behalf of the PSA Women and Politics group, I would like to express
my profound objection to the proposal by HEFCE to extend to 14 months
the length of maternity leave that must be taken before a scholar is
eligible to submit three pieces in the next REF instead of the usual
four. This is objectionable on a number of fronts. First and
foremost, the typical paid maternity leave provision by universities
is six months. In order to qualify for the reduction from four pieces
to three, a female scholar would need to have three children during
the REF cycle. This means that a scholar who has one or two children
during the REF cycle would no longer be entitled to any allowances
whatsoever for the disruption caused to her research. Nor is the
reduction from four pieces to three an adequate compensation for the
time lost in the event of three pregnancies.
The likely outcome would be that a female scholar who had one or more
pregnancies during the REF cycle would be ineligible for submission to
the next REF, a policy that would combine sex and age discrimination
and serve to wreak havoc with the careers of young female scholars.
This is completely unacceptable and must be vociferously opposed by
all in the profession. This policy is particularly damaging given the
under-representation of women within political studies.
The proposal is also to be criticised for its failure to take any
account of paternity leave. All responsibility for child-rearing is
assumed to lie with the mother. This risks penalising responsible
fathers and reinforcing damaging gender divides, whereby the mother is
expected to sacrifice her career in order to raise children while the
father is unable to spend time with his children even if he wishes to
do so.
We trust that your working group will join our membership and other
professional bodies in doing all that we can to oppose this regressive
and discriminatory proposal and prevent it from becoming practice.
Sincerely,
Rainbow Murray
On behalf of the PSA Women and Politics Group
--
Dr. Rainbow Murray
Senior Lecturer, School of Politics and International Relations
Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS
Convenor of the Women and Politics group of the Political Studies Association
Founder and convenor of the Women in French Politics network
www.rainbowmurray.co.uk
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