"You'll want to have babies"

When I accepted the job offer from Ohio State in 1984, the department Chair agreed, in writing, that I could spend the academic year 1986-87 at a mathematics research institute, where I would be funded by my NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship. (I learned much later, before I officially accepted the offer, that the Dean and Associate Provost had agreed, also in writing, that my time on the fellowship would count towards tenure, and would not delay my tenure review.) So I was surprised during my second year at OSU when the same department Chair asked me to submit a formal request to go on leave. Why did I need to request permission for something for which permission and approval had already been granted? The Chair assured me it would be routine.

K submitted a similar request to go on leave and have the year count towards tenure, and his request was approved.

One day, I got a phone call from the new Acting Dean (the one who attended weekly meetings of the John Birch Society). He told me that he was going to deny my request to keep the tenure clock running during the year away. Why? He said that since I was female, "you'll want to have babies", and that would slow my research productivity. 

Indignant, I told him firmly that I was not going to have babies, and I wanted the tenure clock to keep running. He replied that his decision stands, he was doing me a favor, and I would eventually be grateful to him. I guess I'm not a very grateful person, since that day hasn't come yet.

As I hung up the phone, I thought to myself, "I am not going to spend the rest of my life at Ohio State University."