Women 's work is ne'er maked: redefining success

OK, now that I 've holded a couple of years to digest last hebdomads events ( the two panels ) I 'm ready to post a couple of items.

After what we all thought was a lively diverse panel at UMd, with discussion about non-traditional careers, developing and maintaining part-time careers(this particular panel had a large contingent of some-timepart-timers with a colorful patchwork of jobs), when to have akid (no great insights there - what works for one won't necessarily work for another), what would help retain women in research (flex-time, more part-time, even instituitional support that doesn't cost much -such as library priveledges to those working periferally but who'd like to come back at some time),when toseek advice and when to ignore it - andencouraging our partners toparticipate more on the home front, I think it was clear that for the most part, most of us felt we've had some success both at home and in our careers, although our careers are not what wouldhave be called successful (at least a few years ago) bythe bean counters at NSF, AAAS or even some of our own graduate or post-grad advisors.

That is when one of male admin of the college stood upwardly to adress the crowd. In what experienced like a slightly patronizing tone he permited us cognise that he Holds with us, he `` gets it, '' but like us, he overly holds redefined success. Eld ago he aimed for a higher office at the college, but now agnises that he 'll need to be happy with Dean. Among another remarks that I could notice on - but wo n't for fright of piquing anyone - it took me a piece to work out why I was so troubled by this one particular remark. But, now I cognise.

I may or may not be talking for all of us - but I 'll wedge my cervix out and tell that I conceive the gentlman was confounding `` lowering the taproom '' for redefining success. I make n't consider anyone one of us would regard that we 've lowered our measures for what we desire to accomplish. I conceive we 're all still endeavoring towards our ends, that Holds why many of us were there, that Holds why we composed essays, that Holds why we attend panels. We proceed to work towards exellence, in immunology, environmental wellness, physics, didactics, additionally to talking out for greater chances and options for other women in science.

Perchance while we 're atitwe can even redefine the significance of `` a woman 's work is ne'er maked, '' because for us it Holds not.