Marilyn and Irvin Yalom on being a dual-career academic couple

On January 29, 2009, Marilyn and Irvine Yalom will be in conversation with Mark Gonnerman as part of the Stanford Aurora Forum's creative couples series. Starting at 7:30pm, the conversation will take place at the Kresge Auditorium. Free and Open to All

In the course of over fifty years of married life and raising four children, Irvin and Marilyn Yalom have made marks in their respective fields of psychotherapy and women’s studies with contributions through teaching and research leading to the publication of academic papers and popular books. Last year, they each presented their own research into death: Irv’s Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death and Marilyn’s The American Resting Place: Four Hundred Years of History Through our Cemeteries and Burial Grounds. Our conversation will begin with the Yaloms’ poignant explorations of human finitude and then turn to the story of their time together as a dual-career academic couple.

Are you in the sciences?

Our Dual-Career Academic Couples study revealed that 83% of female scientists in a dual-career couple are partnered with another academic; compared to 54% of male scientists. This suggests that dual-career issues are of particular importance for universities which are committed to increasing the number of women on the science faculty. Are you an academic scientist, male or female, partnered or not? What do you think?

Our report does not talk about scientists outside academia. Are you a scientist or engineer in industry, nonprofit or the public service? What are your experiences? Do you meet many dual-career couples? Do your employers set out to help people in dual-career relationships? What resources do they offer?

And do you think it is right for employers to be creating special programs to assist dual career couples, whether inside or outside academia? Have your say!

Have you ever said no?

Have you ever turned down a job offer because your partner couldn't find a suitable job? Have you ever been in a position when you've asked your prospective employer to find your partner a suitable job? Share your stories with us.

Dual-Career report coming soon

Welcome to the Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research's blog for all things to do with dual-career hiring and retention issues in academia. Over the past two years, we've been working on a large survey-based study of dual-career hiring practices in the US. Over 9,000 faculty from 13 leading research universities responded to our survey. They are spread across the country, from coast to coast, and represent faculty at both public and private institutions.

Who should read our report? Everyone who is interested in the strength and continuing success of the US university sector! It's clear from the demographics that dual-career hiring will be the next great challenge to face our higher education system. If you are a faculty member (or someone who wants to have a professorial career), read our report to learn how individuals tend not to negotiate in their best interests. And if you are a university administrator working on faculty recruitment, retention, or diversity, our report will help you understand where you need to go from here.

Coming in August!