Leiter Reports: A Philosophy Blog: Graduate School and Family: When?
Graduate School and Family: When?
I am a female graduate student entering into the dissertation phase of my schooling. I am in a top-25 philosophy dept at a large research university, and I hope to get a job at a university like the one I am attending. My question is when is the best time for someone in my position to start a family. During the dissertation phase? While on the job market? While trying to get tenure? After getting tenure? None of these times seem good, but clearly some women in our profession have families and successful careers. I am I am curious to hear what you and your readers have to say about this topic.
But none of that takes away from the correspondent's question, on which I have no special insight. My inclination is to think that starting a family after being employed is the best bet, but for reasons that are not peculiar to academia (namely, having a salary and benefits is usually better than not). Comments are welcome; signed comments preferred, unsigned are OK only if there is a real e-mail address (which will not appear).