Hi friends,
I’m basically taking the week off. We drove to the Finger Lakes to watch the eclipse, the kids are off for Eid, it’s our anniversary on Friday. All good reasons to spend a little time unplugged.
I just wanted to pop in for two quick reasons. The first is to share this article that made the social media rounds this week confirming what most of us already know: women in the academy get left doing “academic housework” out of a sense of obligation, while men…don’t. Indeed, the researchers find, “The male associate professors in particular made it clear that they actively engaged in evasiveness and did not want to participate if it was not positive for their careers.”
On the one hand, I suspect these findings surprised no one. On the other hand, I hear women worry all the time about the costs of not doing service. I’ve spoken to more than one woman who felt guilty for the timing of their pregnancies because it would inconvenience their department. Whose books are delayed a year or more because they were given all new preps because the men in their department didn’t “feel like” teaching service classes. And who are worried about their tenure cases because they wind up on time consuming committees because “everyone else said no.” And who have objectively more impressive publication records than their male colleagues but who are counseled to wait to go up for tenure and promotion because of “vibes.”
So, women: do less shit. Form yourself a no committee.** Write yourself a no script, maybe like E.B. White’s:
Remember what Mirya’s advice about Yeses and Nos. Every yes is a no, every no is a yes—so make the yeses matter.
Also, importantly, remember that you allegedly want to work in this career at this institution for the next 30 (or so) years. Every single opportunity that you turn down now will come back again…and again…and again.
And men: do more shit. And when names are being passed around to sit on that two-year assessment committee DON’T NOMINATE YOUR UNTENURED FEMALE COLLEAGUE. Instead, make an impassioned plea for how that dude in Biology who hasn’t been on a committee since 1989 would be outstanding in the role. And when opportunities for course releases and reassigned time and research grants come up, that’s the time to nominate your untenured female colleague.
In general, become a hype person for the women in your department. Talk about how great their research is. When you’re in rooms with just other dudes, interrupt the gatekeeping conversations that serve to keep the academy safe for privileged white men. And, if the junior women in the department are asked to provide snacks or coffee or take notes, you can do that instead (or better yet, ask the senior men to do it). And sometimes, say yes to the things no one wants to do.
ApWriMo—Say Yes to Your Writing
This is the last reminder that ApWriMo, my made-up counterpart to AcWriMo, starts in five days! We’ll have daily co-writing sessions, have a Slack channel for support, and participate in a mini writing retreat on April 19. You can sign up here—and it’s free! Feel free to forward this on to friends and colleagues as well.
I’m spending this week taking an audit of different writing projects and updating my pipeline. What do I have that’s lingering and can be spruced up and sent out in the world? What do I have that is urgent and could use some sustained focus? What do I want to keep moving along in the world?
Important—if you signed up and haven’t heard from me, can you either sign up again or email me? A few responses came through blank and a few emails bounced, so I want to make sure that everyone who wants to hang out can.
With love from the founding member of your No Squad,
Kelly
**That’s right! Epilogue Editing swag is here. The world may never be the same.
A few last reminders…
So You Want to Write a Book is my book writing workshop that will start in May, giving you a solid action plan to work from before the summer starts. I am SO excited about this, and there are only a few spots still available!
Editing and Coaching: We also offer coaching, developmental and stylistic editing, support for scholars for whom English is an additional language, and grant and job material assistance. We do have availability for the spring and summer, so feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to schedule a free 30-minute Zoom call to talk through what working together would look like!