Three reasons why dual-career academic couples do not give each other good advice

“When my partner and I talk to each other about our academic jobs - are we giving each other good advice?” asks Joshua Kim of Inside Higher Ed, before diving into three reasons why the answer might be no. First, he notes that by virtue of the relationship, partners may lack objectivity when evaluating one another. Second, he states that in the case of a couple both attempting to navigate the same institution, mistakes in analysis or perception could be magnified over two careers instead of just one. Finally, he notes that most members of dual-academic career couples are naturally unequal due to the academic labour market, where each partner may hold a role of leading or trailing spouse, and that this issue of equality may help or hinder the quality of the advice each partner gives the other. Inside Higher Ed