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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
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Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Mommy Brain And The Mommy Mathematician, Bonnie Jacob
Mommy Brain And The Mommy Mathematician, Bonnie Jacob
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Is mommy brain real? Are pregnant women and mothers ditzier than non-mothers? If mommy brain is a real phenomenon, what are the implications for women mathematicians whose careers depend on their mental agility? While anecdotes and references to the phenomenon in pop culture abound, concrete evidence is decidedly murky. In this article, I discuss some of the recent research on so-called mommy brain. I delve into the implications of its alleged existence, particularly for mother-mathematicians. I include perspectives of several mother-mathematicians on the consequences of mommy brain … or its perceived existence.
The Elephant (-Sized Belly) In The Room, Teena Carroll
The Elephant (-Sized Belly) In The Room, Teena Carroll
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Had I known about the grim employment statistics facing mothers in academia I might have chosen a different path. I share my story of navigating the academic job market while visibly pregnant and connect my experiences to the wider issue of biases against motherhood in academia. Ultimately I was lucky to get a tenure-track job right out of graduate school, but the environment I found myself in was hostile to me as a new mother. There has been much interest in increasing gender diversity of the professorate, especially in mathematics; it is valuable to look specifically at how motherhood and …