The Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

The spring of 2020 marked a change in how almost everyone conducted their personal and professional lives, both within science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) and beyond. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global scientific conferences and individual laboratories and required people to find space in their homes from which to work. It blurred the boundaries between work and non-work, infusing ambiguity into everyday activities. While adaptations that allowed people to connect became more common, the evidence available at the end of 2020 suggests that the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic endangered the engagement, experience, and retention of women in academic STEMM, and may roll back some of the achievement gains made by women in the academy to date.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine identifies, names, and documents how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the careers of women in academic STEMM during the initial 9-month period since March 2020 and considers how these disruptions - both positive and negative - might shape future progress for women. This publication builds on the 2020 report Promising Practices for Addressing the Underrepresentation of Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine to develop a comprehensive understanding of the nuanced ways these disruptions have manifested. The Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will inform the academic community as it emerges from the pandemic to mitigate any long-term negative consequences for the continued advancement of women in the academic STEMM workforce and build on the adaptations and opportunities that have emerged.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 October 2020 Women in STEMM Faculty Survey on Work-Life Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic
• 3 Academic Productivity and Institutional Responses
• 4 Work-Life Boundaries and Gendered Divisions of Labor
• 5 Collaboration, Networks, and Role of Professional Organizations
• 6 Academic Leadership and Decision-Making
• 7 Mental Health and Well-being
• 8 Major Findings and Research Questions
• Glossary
• References
• Appendix A: Literature Review Terms and Survey Methodology for "Boundaryless Work: The Impact of COVID-19 on Work-Life Boundary Management, Integration, and Gendered Divisions of Labor for Academic Women in STEMM," by Ellen Ernst Kossek, Tammy D. Allen, and Tracy L. Dumas
• Appendix B: Methodology and Data Sources for the "Academic STEMM Labor Market, Productivity, and Institutional Responses," by Felicia A. Jefferson, Matthew T. Hora, Sabrina...read more...