Women Practicing Resilience, Self-care and Wellbeing in Academia : International Stories From Lived Experience

"Through a lens of self-care and wellbeing, this book shares stories of struggle and success from a diverse range of women in academia. Each story highlights how these women mitigated and overcame various barriers as part of their academic trajectory and provides practical strategies for maintaining self-care and wellbeing. Taken from lived experience, the autoethnographic narrative approach provides a deeper, personal understanding of the obstacles faced by women throughout an academic career and guidance on how these might be navigated in a way that avoids self-sacrificing. This collection goes further to illustrate the ways that higher education institutions can be more accommodating of the needs of women"-- Provided by publisher Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of contributors A note from the series editor References Acknowledgements Part I: Women and the changing academia Chapter 1: Of glass ceilings and glass cliffs: Navigating the gendered academy Of glass ceilings and glass cliffs: navigating the gendered academy Introduction Barriers to and enablers of career trajectory for women in academia Organisational norms and cultural barriers A balance between family and work Mentorship as an enabler Challenging the impossible: putting our self-care at the forefront Strategy 1: Self-care in the form of a network of support Strategy 2: Membership in virtual personal development community Strategy 3: Engagement in professional network Conclusion Notes References Chapter 2: The Holy Trinity of teaching, research, and service Past research Methodology Discussion and strategies of self-care Conclusion References Chapter 3: The dancing lecturer: Crafting the strong woman in the academia Literature review Methodology Discussion Being the dancer-researcher Being the administrator-dancer Wellbeing of staffs at the heart of the leadership Strategies Conclusion Notes References Chapter 4: Carrying the world on your back: The burden of self-care for under-represented women Literature Methodology Discussion Self-care: A manifesto Survival, self-care, and institutions Therapy Resilience Strategies unpacked as tips: “Connecting to the self” Conclusion References Part II: Identity formations and the career trajectory Chapter 5: Solitude, sanctuary, and pseudo-mentors: A pandemic lens on an early career transition into doing and being research/researcher Visual narrative Positioning Context and methodology Early career transitions and mentoring Solitude and sanctuary Discussion and implications for self-care Conclusion References Chapter 6: Journaling as self-care, journaling for personal and professional development: A visual narrative Academia and the challenges of being a female academic Defining and embracing ADHD The structure I need as a woman academic with ADHD: a visual narrative Is journaling for you? Conclusion Note References Chapter 7: Give me wings, and I will fly Literature review Self-care Strategies for self-care Methodology Finding my wings Conclusion References Chapter 8: Navigating fieldwork amidst my menstrual cycle: Being a female ethnographer in a remote Indian region Doing ethnography vis-à-vis the self (care) Situating myself as an ethnographer Practicing self-care during ethnography Conclusion Notes References Chapter 9: Mentoring practices in higher education: Self-care through the lens of the mentee in the era of remote learning The role of a mentor in early career academia Decoding mentoring theory and relationships What is mentoring? Formal versus informal mentoring relationships The benefits and significance of mentoring for female early career academics Case study: Anisha – self-care through the lens of a mentee Visual narrative: Inviting self-care into the physical or remote workspace Building self-care practices through my mentorship journey: “How I met my mentor” Strategy (1): Harnessing the power of positive affirmations Strategy (2): Creating better self-awareness through self-reflection Strategy (3): Digitally detoxing to alleviate stress in the remote workspace Discussion Connecting the dots: Building self-care practices from mentoring Mentoring in the hybrid workplaces of the future Diversify your mentor portfolio Regular virtual check-in sessions Self-care tips for the hybrid workplaces of the future Creating a mindful workspace Scheduling wellness into your workday Nurturing supportive collegial relationships Valuing yourself, your health, and your energy Conclusion References Part III: Of well-being and self-care in academia Chapter 10: A polyvagal pathway: Implications of pursuing it all That pole, the pace, those pursuits This body, here These bodies pursuing it all Our polyvagal bodies Our academic bodies Unsticking these stressed bodies This body, each day, practising Morning Evening These polyvagal bodies that pendulate, together References Chapter 11: Carving your destiny in academia as a “lecturer” and a “mother” Opportunities and initiatives: schoolteacher to university teacher Knowledge and action: university teacher to lecturer Broadening the horizon: pursuing my PhD in the UK Administrative academic: being the dean Multipurpose study room at home Being the director of international office Turning deprivation into opportunities Social and recreational strategies: life beyond work References Chapter 12: Navigating and building resilience in academia: Dual perspectives Visual narrative: dual academic perspectives on building resilience and self-care ( Figure 12.1) Discussion Strategy 1: Create opportunities and embrace mentorship and sponsorship A mentor’s perspective A mentee’s perspective Strategy 2: Develop supportive collegial relationships and collaborative partnerships A mentor’s perspective A mentee’s perspective Strategy 3: Find your emotional sounding board A mentor’s perspective A mentee’s perspective Strategy 4: Pool your resources Strategy 5: Create positive daily rituals A mentor’s perspective A mentee’s perspective Strategy 6: find your voice A mentor’s perspective A mentee’s perspective Strategy 7: Make emotional self-care a priority A mentor and mentee’s perspective Strategy 8: Reflect, reflect, reflect! A mentor and mentee’s perspective Strategy 9: Remember to recognise and celebrate your successes A mentor and mentee’s perspective Strategy 10: Be a champion of other women A mentor’s perspective A mentee’s perspective Conclusion References Chapter 13: A great escape for my survival as a female academic in Japan: My story, my career trajectory When I look back ... Postgraduate school time Joining the old boys’ club – not Healing my wounds The place where I was reborn Going back to the wild jungle – strategy for career trajectory Conclusion – my story Notes References Chapter 14: Uncensored? Writing our resistance as an act of self-care Literature Writing as resistance How we enact self-care Methodology Discussion Strategies Conclusion References Chapter 15: Of wellbeing and self-care in academia Gender inequality Resilience in academia Career development The work-life balance Work-life balance: Women academics Home and work balance Personal time and space Social time and space Work time and space Discussion Conclusion References Index