do babies matter

Women graduate students and the importance of mentors

sciencewoman | March 26, 2009

Mary Ann Mason has a column in this week's Chronicle of Higher Education describing the importance of role models and mentors for women graduate students. Though Zuska recently wrote a provocative post that argued that "the problem of motherhood" might be a red herring for those interested in increasing the representation of women in science, Mason's column provides some data that suggest the problem of motherhood is very real. Role models, particularly ones with children, can make the difference in whether a female graduate student takes the next big step along the tenure track. While…