BabyTAG

BabyTAG Durham 2009?
We asked the Durham organisers in June 2009 re. facilities for TAG 2009 and initial indications were very positive. However TAG only followed it up with us 8 days before the conference... BWA are now helping to organise something at the last minute, so watch this space. A number of you have been in touch to give us your views.

One female member asked:
"Just wondering why the TAG organisers have not contacted all participants, male and female, in the normal way (or did I miss the email?). It strikes me that these assumptions about parenting roles [as a female responsibility] are exactly the kind of thing BWA are in an excellent position to comment on and dispell". 

Other comments received:
"I do hope that this service will become a cornerstone of future TAG organisation"
"That would be very very useful for 2010..  Thanks for thinking of it"

Unfortunately, TAG do not offer a creche as standard - the emphasis is firmly on BWA having to ask each year. This really isn't an ideal situation!

One father commented: 
"It would be good to get it built in to TAG somehow wouldn’t it? But I guess that’s what you’re trying to do..."

Another:
"Could creche facilities be factored in to the TAG organisation from the start rather than at this late stage.. With all due respect to the BWA, this is not an issue that they should be responsible for. This issue affects archaeologists of both genders who happen to be parents and is the responsibility of the conference organisers"

BabyTAG Southampton 2008 
At the request of one of our members, in July 2008 we approached the organising committee for TAG 2008 to ask if they’d be willing to provide childcare facilities at the conference in Southampton. We were delighted when they agreed without hesitation and even more so on receiving feedback that the first ‘Baby TAG’ was a success!

Why should conferences provide childcare facilities?

BWA recognises that attending conferences is crucial for career development – providing archaeologists with the chance to promote their work and meet with others in the field. TAG is oumajor national conference with 400-500 participants.

It is hoped that the inclusive ethos of TAG means it will strive to support families by providing childcare facilities and become a positive influence on many aspects of archaeology as a profession:

·     Parents will see that having a baby does not exclude them from attending conferences, nor work against the enhancement of their careers.
·     Those attending conferences with children will be more relaxed about taking them in to sessions.
·     We envisage that over time more parents will feel able to attend conferences when they know that such care is available.
·     It illustrates the professionalism of the discipline; responding to the needs of families is a concern many businesses now take very seriously, to their longer-term profit.

Archaeologists have families, it’s a fact. Let’s help our profession to recognise it!

But what if my children are too old for a crèche?

This is something that Anne has been dealing with for some years. She feels better leaving her children in a familiar environment and personally does not like taking them to conferences. She prefers to be able to go out in the evenings and take a break from full-time motherhood for a couple of days! In recent years, Anne has left her children with her ex-husband, her father, her sister or a well trusted friend.

Family often will not offer, but will respond if you ask. No-one knows your needs unless you express them! So feel confident about asking for help and confident about taking your career seriously. Going to one or two conferences a year will not make you a bad parent, but at a developmental stage of your career, not going to conferences may hinder career progression.