Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research, Stanford University
If society is to make progress in tackling the issue of achieving better work-life balance for everyone - men and women - then we need to have real information and knowledge underpinning our strategies. The Clayman Institute's research program is intended to provide some of this vital information, particularly as it relates to professional two career households and the experiences of women in science and technology based careers.

Following this summer's successful pilot at Stanford University, the Clayman Institute will now be carrying forward its study "Managing Academic Careers" by distributing a detailed survey to thousands of faculty working at top research universities across the nation. The feedback we get on how individuals manage and plan their careers, and succeed or fail in achieving a satisfactory work-life balance in this sector will have implications for the recruitment and retention policies of all universities; and may help other employers better appreciate the needs of their professional workforce.

The Clayman Institute is also looking at the relationship between work-life balance issues in the corporate world of high technology. We are investigating two key questions about the science and technology industrial "pipeline" for women: first, why some women stay and succeed in senior executive roles within Silicon Valley's high-tech companies; and secondly, why others leave the corporate career track for other challenges.

October 2006 will be a busy month for us as we begin to gather the results that will help make work-life balance a year round reality for more people!

Visit: http://gender.stanford.edu for more information.