Invisible work in women's academic careers

Abstract

Invisible work, which is provided free of charge mainly in the domestic space, concerns mainly women and is treated as a natural attribute of their social role. However, this phenomenon should not be confined only to domestic and caring structures, as it also includes activities performed in paid employment. In the context of science and higher education, invisible work encompasses a whole range of jobs that, while absorbing, receive little recognition or consideration in promotion competitions. These include teaching, supervising students or participating in university committee meetings and other service work for the academic community. On average, women have more teaching responsibilities than men because teaching and mentoring associated with care are perceived as feminine activities, while conducting research and performing functions are perceived as masculine activities. Overloading women with additional invisible jobs has a direct impact on the development of their professional careers. Research shows that women are less likely to get managerial positions in higher education and less often to achieve the rank of professors. One of the barriers that women face in accessing top positions in science at universities is the ‘glass ceiling’ phenomenon. This article draws attention to the phenomenon of women's invisible work in higher education in the face of contemporary challenges. This examination will also identify the existing gaps in the law and consider for legal and non-legal solutions that will contribute to the removal of barriers in the academic work environment, in which many stereotypes still prevail.