Faculty unions as a fourth actor: Two paths to supporting female professors in academia

Abstract

The focal article (Gabriel et al., 2023) calls on policymakers, department heads, and faculty to “ build structures that support women professors as they navigate the complexities of pregnancy, the postpartum period, and the caregiving demands of their children. ” In this commentary, we extend the arguments of Gabriel and colleagues by adding a fourth actor to the conversation: faculty labor unions. We argue that faculty unions are a potential structural support for women professors that can facilitate access to caregiving and family-related resources. Although faculty unions are comprised of fellow faculty members, they provide unique structural power beyond faculty allyship described in the focal article. Unions are something that women professors can potentially rely on when they do not have allies in administration and among their colleagues. And, when they do have allies, they can work in tandem with the union. To