The ideal academic baby and perceived organisational support: motherhood experiences in UK Universities

Many of the career challenges faced by academic mothers reflect broader professional community expectations and constraints. This paper delves into these difficulties by examining the experiences of female academics throughout their maternity journey. Using Perceived Organisational Support (POS) as a framework, our findings from 26 interviews reveal a widespread lack of perceived support during maternity leave and for returning mothers. This absence of social and organisational support undermined their trust and confidence toward their employers. We demonstrate that a safe environment is significant to how mothers in higher education perceive how much their universities value their contributions and care about their wellbeing, wherein they can comfortably discuss motherhood and how their needs can be accommodated without fear of being perceived as less competent. In doing so, we advise on and advocate for gender equality practices in the workplace, especially significant to career progression upon return to work.