SEG survey on dual-career couples and women: The hidden diversity of dual-career couples

摘要

Although a casual observer might infer changes in the percentage of women in geophysics, it is not as obvious that there are also more dual-career couples. Domestic arrangements are a form of "invisible diversity." Dual-career couples comprise a large and growing fraction of the workforce. Most female geophysicists are partners in dual-career couples. Like women, people in dual-career couples are underrepresented in executive positions. Addressing barriers to dual-career couples will reduce barriers for many women. Dual-career couples live with different work-life constraints than single breadwinners. Differences in lifestyle and priorities between people who are their household's primary breadwinner and members of a couple consisting of a pair of "equal earners" can lead to misunderstandings about career dedication and professional ambition. The survey initiated by the SEG Women's Network Committee (WNC) explored some aspects of these issues because the WNC suspected that a large percentage of female SEG members are part of such couples. SEG and its members will benefit from a better understanding of differences between primary breadwinners and equal earners as the composition of the workforce and SEG membership shift from being largely primary breadwinners to equal earners.