Academics Working from Home: Spatial Relations Between Men and Women

Flexible work arrangements, such as hybrid models and work-from-home policies, are having an impressive impact on academia. These contemporary working styles are not only altering how academic work is conducted but also influencing scientists’ productivity and creativity outcomes in gender-specific ways. When academics engage in their professional activities from home, the utilization of domestic spaces plays a crucial role in their productivity and creativity. This research shows that there is a differential effect of the workspace observed between genders, with men often being more able to use space to favor their academic work. This phenomenon can be attributed to the broader socio-cultural dynamics at play, where domestic spaces materialize and reinforce existing gender relations. As academic tasks, such as performing research, become intertwined with home life, they manifest prevailing gender norms and expectations. This intersection of work and domestic life demands further investigation from both research and design practices to foster equitable outcomes across genders in the evolving academic workplace.