“If you’re doing this correctly, there is a cost”: an exploration of the work–family trade-offs of female academics in Australia

Purpose This paper aims to explore how the gendered structures and expectations of neoliberal academic institutions inform and shape work–family trade-off considerations for women academics in Australia. It also sheds light on how these negotiations, and at times, the ensuing career or family gap, are experienced. In doing so, the paper deepens our understanding of the systematic barriers which do not only lead to gender inequalities in academia but also have broader individual and social implications. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory study is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews, which were thematically analysed to identify how female academics navigate the expectations associated with the ideal academic norm and their domestic family role while working in the gendered structures of Australian academia. Findings This study brings to the fore the significantly different career and family experiences of male and female academics in Australia. Male academics tended to progress autonomously, whereas women often made work–family trade-offs, including delaying or foregoing children and reported experiencing relationship strains. While the flexibility of academic work facilitated meeting family demands it also reduced personal time and rest and recovery. Practical implications An increase in the number of senior female academics is often considered an indication of increased gender equity in universities, but this metric does not acknowledge that career progression can come at a significant personal cost for some women. This study suggests that the careers of some women in academia may only be sustainable because of their personal work–family trade-offs or external support structures, through which they essentially conform to, rather than challenge, the gendered structures of academia. As such, it is important that these narratives and experiences are explored and recognised and ultimately lead to broader structural changes to drive more equitable outcomes. Originality/value While research exploring the career gap in academia is ample, the potential family gap for women academics has been largely ignored. As such, this paper makes an important contribution to contemporary knowledge on the work–family negotiations of women in Australian academia.