HIDDEN FIGURES
There is no sector-wide data set on the number of HE staff who are parents and carers.
Yet, the increase in caring and domestic responsibilities during the COVID-19 lockdown had a significant effect on working parents.
During lockdown, working mothers reported:
Challenge managing childcare and paid work
PREGNANT THEN SCREWED (2020)
Career prospects negatively affected
PREGNANT THEN SCREWED (2020)
Ability to do paid job negatively impacted
KCL & IPSOS MORI
(2020)
Research by female academics 'plummeted' during lockdown. The biggest reason cited was childcare and domestic responsibilities.
THE GUARDIAN, 12TH MAY 2020
Professional services women account for 1/3 of all UK Higher Education employees.
HESA STAFF DATA
Yet, they are routinely omitted from research about HE.
This includes studies about career and workload impact during lockdown.
WHEN's 'Sharing the Caring' survey received over 1,000 responses from parents and carers working in professional services roles in UK HE.
It explored how childcare and household tasks were shared between cohabiting couples during lockdown.
