It's long been a mantra of the feminist movement that women can have it all - a happy family and a successful career. In reality, there are always tradeoffs.
Motherhood: The Elephant in the Laboratory is a collection of first-person essays by scientist-moms who have navigated the ups and downs of family and career over the past four decades. Each of the thirty-four essayists has found her own unique path. Some have pursued a traditional career path from graduate school to a tenure-track position in academia. Others have formed their own consulting companies; pieced together part-time, adjunct or visiting positions; or turned to teaching. Still others have done all of the above at some point in their careers.
There are themes that run through many of the essays. The benefits of a supportive spouse and the need for immense self-confidence and creativity is perhaps the most common. Many write about the surprising emotional, as well as financial, toll non-traditional career paths can take. Few harbor regrets about the decisions they've made. But, of course, all express the desire to see broad-scale social changes that would make it easier for the next generation of young women.
The diversity of careers represented in Motherhood opens up fundamental questions about what it means to be a scientist. Certainly, traditional definitions no longer apply for many scientist moms. And that, according to editor, independent toxicologist, and scientist-mom Dr. Emily Monosson, is a good thing.