Juno - I understand - just make sure you let any female friends you do have who are going to get pregnant benefit from your extensive wisdom on the subject - "puking is unavoidable". I have this hilarious image of a female pregnant PhD student like the woman in little Britain projectile vomming uncontrollably, spraying people with chunks as she drags herself to work. You are obviously far more capable than any of the brilliant women I know who are or have been pregnant and continue in full-time pressurised, stressful jobs without showering their colleagues with vomit. Thanks for correcting me

Just seen the message about puking up whilst writing a thesis - where does that come from Juno!! Have you actually met anyone pregnant! you are implying they become jibbering puking idiots with no brains!! My friend is nine months pregnant and works as a headhunter in the city - please - I think the whole pregnant women are pathetic and ineffectual prejudice is just really ignorant!!!

I know you probably feel you've explained it, but to be honest I just can't follow the logic. Universities have creches for their students children to attend!! It may be that if you are a younger woman then waiting three years is nothing, but if you are over thirty and the time is just personally right for you, waiting three years may be an awfully long time, especially if you want more children later. Fertility declines after 30 and 35. I just think maybe you're suggesting it's better to wait because you're not yourself in the position that others are, but it doesn't mean they are wrong and irresponsible and I still find the whole planned pregnancy bad, unplanned pregancy fine duality. It's very judgmental

But the logic doesn't work for me Juno. Are you implying that if a woman becomes pregnant, they work less effectively? Of course PhDs are subject to completion times, but people get sick and take time off for illness etc. Is it just the dishonesty thing you have a problem with? In which case, say a woman goes for a job should she proffer information to the effect that "I may decide to try for a family within the next three years"? You are also implying that if a candidate applies for a PhD and says she is planning to have a family, she will immediately forfeit the chances of getting one. PhDs are awarded on academic excellence, not reproductive plans.

Did anyone see the programme on Sunday night about the woman who lost her job in the city because she had a baby? It happens and prejudice against working mothers is rife. The idea that a woman is irresponsible if she PLANS and thinks about getting pregnant seems a little strange to me. I think it's irrelevant. Have a baby if you want one, don't if you don't ! One of the first people I met when I started was a mother of 4 doing a PhD with another child on the way and she worked more hours than seemed physically possible - what on earth has she done that's wrong?

Women who get pregnant whilst studying or at work do not create the problem, it is employers and peers who believe that women should fitin with a world that has been constructed to support male work practices. Women do not create a problem, they give birth to children - work practices do not accommodate them well, they more often than not return to badly paid part-time work that does not reflect their skills or education. My supervisor who is a professor and so highly intelligent as well as experienced recommended I have a child at the right time for ME - if you wait for when it suits the WORLD you will be waiting forever and as women we should stick together - because if you think it will caused raised eyebrows now, it should be born in mind that it will later and at every stage in a woman's career.

In the current job market, most jobs are not for life.Most of the women I know who have had children may only have been in a job a few years before they have children. There is such a thing as Equal Opportunities. This applies to students as well who should not be at a disadvantage because they get pregnant. The AHRC and other funding bodies stipulate that women who get pregnant whilst studying are entitled to maternity leave.

Yippee!! Congratulations Piglet!!

Now now - behave...

PS Otto - after your heartfelt plea I forgive your rudeness...

Good luck BadHaircut - I hope you know that I wasn't for one minute suggesting after three years of hard work you turn away from wanting to be a lecturer so that you can take up a note-taking career instead! Just understand the frustrating process of being rejected from temping when you just really need money to get by and can't face another temping agency. Good luck with all the job applications.

PS Otto I think you mean "with patience and strength" not "strong"

I think if you're applying for jobs at a temping agency which I have had alot of experience of (obviously more than you Otto) you can consider two options - either
a) Not say you are doing a PhD if you are affected by other people's negative and demoralising attitudes
b) Say it with pride and accept that some people will not find it relevant to your job application and might be quite possibly rude/disinterested perhaps because they are having a bad day/don;t like their own job or just don't care.

Thanks Danny!

Hi Otto - That's a bit of a rude response for someone trying to be helpful who you don't know! I was not for one minute suggesting that he should not apply for jobs as a lecturer. I was responding to his need to find short -term averagely well paid work. As for it being a crap job - how do you know and how do you make ends meet - presunmably you do something well paid and brilliantly exciting and have no need for such lowly ways to make a living?

Also could be quite offensive to anyone disabled who has had valued and important assistance in completing a higher education!!!! I was a notetaker for people completing BAs, MAs etc. and it was a nice job where I met interesting people who complete their education with more obstacles than most.

I don't know if this will apply at the University you're based at, but most universities have a notetaking/support service for disabled students and they take on staff paying them above minimum wage. I was a notetaker (outside of London) and was paid £9 per hour for notetaking and £7 per hour for support work. It was very enjoyable too and I got to sit through all kinds of exciting lectures from law to microbiology. Other than that, here exam invigilation is a good way to make albeit a seasonal wage - it's offered to staff and PhD students only. Might be worth approaching your Uni to find out. Don't be too disheartened by the agencies - we've all been there! You could always be creative with your CV ie don't list all your academic qualifications if the job doesn't require it! Do they really need to know?