Women are getting less research done than men during this coronavirus pandemic
Megan Frederickson, Associate Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto
Before COVID-19, I used to spend a lot of time feeling like the Cat in The Cat in the Hat. I was holding a cup, the milk, the cake and a little toy ship, while bouncing up and down on a ball.
I am a tenured professor and a scientist. I have a lab, grants and grad students. I write academic articles and I teach, and I’m in the midst of writing a book.
I am also a mom. So, I cook, clean and nurture.
Before this pandemic, I already had my hands full and I often wondered what would finally make me fall off the ball. But I never thought it would be a virus, especially one I haven’t even contracted.
For the past 62 days, I have been staying at home around the clock with my wonderful partner and our delightful six-year-old son. I would say that I have been working from home, except that very little scholarly work gets done with a six-year-old underfoot, unless he is glued to a screen. I know I’m lucky to still have a job and a healthy family, but COVID-19 is taking a toll.