ACADEMIC WORK AND SOCIAL LIFE. Laura at 11-D has been hard at work. One observation reflects the spatial isolation of many of the smaller colleges (and not a few large ones):

Even those without kids have found academia incompatible with a personal life. The high level of mobility and scarcity of jobs puts pressures on couples. Many singles must accept positions in rural areas of the country where there are little opportunities to date. Discuss.

And then there's this:

Several factors are conspiring to make academia a particularly hostile place for parents. 1) The level of competition for jobs means that universities have no need to accommodate individuals with family responsibilities. 2) Most women don’t finish their dissertations until their mid thirties and don’t secure tenure until their forties. Too late to start a family. 3) The profession is traditionally male, and women don’t feel comfortable asking for a special room to breastfeed or for paid maternity leave. 4) There are no adequate part-time options for parents. Adjuncting doesn't pay for the babysitter.

The comment sections are busy.

Ah, but is it any better in the for-profit sector?