Work and Family Life of Academics

Reports on a seminar organized by Middlesex's Gender & Diversity cluster

[Guest post by CYGNA member Dr Bianca Stumbitz. In this post Bianca reports on a seminar she organized on behalf of Middlesex University's Gender & Diversity cluster.]

In December 2019 the Gender & Diversity Research Cluster and the Management, Leadership & Organizations Department at Middlesex were delighted to welcome Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes from Boston College School in the US. Marcie's presentation (handout of slides can be downloaded here; please cite if content is used) drew a large audience from across different Schools at Middlesex University as well as other universities in the London area.

In 2018, Marcie received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN), to honour her extraordinary contributions to work-family scholarship. Marcie's highly engaging talk was followed by a networking meeting with a smaller group (see 2nd picture below).

Abstract

This seminar explored how work-family paradigms help provide insights about the experiences of today’s workers – particularly academics – in the context of workforce diversity. Marcie used an adapted model of the work/family/personal life interface to identify events and pressure points that can have an impact on career decisions (such as promotions in the academy) and personal/family well-being. Drawing from frameworks including Crenshaw’s intersectionality, she discussed the findings of a 2019 exploratory study she conducted with colleagues that examined how perceptions of organizational justice and workplace fairness can vary across the life course.

Biography

Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes is a Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the Boston College School of Social Work in the US. She provides leadership to a wide range of initiatives (research, teaching, and organizational assessments) focused on equity, justice, and inclusion. Her current research focuses on intersectionality and perceptions of workplace fairness.

Dr. Pitt-Catsouphes directed the Doctoral Program at the School of Social Work for several years, introducing innovations designed to accelerate the career trajectories of the students. She founded and directed the Sloan Work-Family Research Network which has evolved into the Work and Family Researchers Network, one of the leading work and family research associations. Dr. Pitt-Catsouphes co-founded and directed the Center on Aging & Work which partnered with researchers and employers around the world to examine both the emerging labor force participation trends of today’s older adults, as well as the conditions of employment that affect work and family outcomes. Marcie also co-founded and co-directed the Center for Social Innovation at Boston College.

Middlesex University Gender & Diversity Research Cluster

The Gender & Diversity Research Cluster [four cluster members are shown above with Alice Eagley] provides a supportive and inclusive environment for people to produce critical management research, develop teaching practice, and generate professional engagement activities, focusing on gender and diversity in the workplace. The research cluster is led by Dr Bianca Stumbitz, and its interdisciplinary membership includes staff from the Department of Management of Management, Leadership and Organisations (MLO), the Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research (CEEDR), Accounting & Finance, Media and Psychology. Its research is grouped within four main themes: Gender Equality; Workforce Diversity (including gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, and religion); Work-Life Balance; and Maternity Protection at Work (including research in developing countries).

Related blogposts

Other Middlesex seminars