Relying on the h-index harms the careers of people who take career breaks

March marked the anniversary of the start of my maternity leave. The research contract I was on expired in the meantime, but I’ve secured a research position at a new institution. For the year I was away from science and academia to focus on my baby, I fought the slow-burning background anxiety of knowing I would not publish during this time. Before I gave birth, I thought perhaps I could write a paper or two in between naps. When I tried, I could never focus enough to do so. Eventually I decided I was just going to enjoy motherhood and see what happened. I can’t say I regret it, but I also cannot say I am at peace with that decision.

Parenthood strongly affects women’s careers, with trends in mothers’ publication records closely following trends in the level of attention a child requires at different stages of development.¹ To a certain extent this could be expected, since women physically go through childbirth and post-partum recovery. But because childcare responsibilities also fall mostly on women, the impact on their careers is not only deeper but also longer-lasting. Even in countries where parental leave is offered, it is common for paternity leave to be many months shorter than maternity leave, bringing home the implicit expectation that mothers will be the default caregiver.