Published: A Study on Work-Life Balance (or the Lack Thereof) of Young Scientists
The article by the junior research fellow of CYS Anastasiia Andreeva has been published in 'International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy'. The paper examines the processes of transformation of academic activity and the pursuit for a work-life balance for modern young scientists.
The article explores academic sphere under neoliberal labor processes, when in perpetual professional treadmill academic professionals become precarious office workers. In such an environment where the focus on 'efficiency' prevails — for example, the introduction of performance evaluation based on measurable parameters, such as publication activity — it leads to a significant overload of responsibilities and an imbalance in the distribution of time between research work, teaching, and personal life.
Anastasiia Andreeva, junior research fellow at CYS, in her article 'The neoliberalization of academia: a focus on young Russian researchers' work–life (im)balance' suggests considering an work-life (im)balance (WLB) as an occupational disease which puts young academic workers in a risk group but which is not included in any insurance cover.
The results show that young researchers understand WLB as an individual's ability to break out of the “faster, higher, stronger” race. Self-realization, serving a mission and forming a community of like-minded people are the meanings of work that outweigh the disadvantages of the academic lifestyle. WLB is a moral category: Its (failed) achievement is constructed as a personal win or personal failure and a sign of moral (un)worthiness.
The article is written in English.
