Female faculty members working in the Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine requested a rest room that could be used by pregnant women and women who are raising children after giving birth. In response, we renovated a room that had previously been used as a staff rest room. The rest room can be locked from the inside and is furnished with a sofa, refrigerator, microwave, and sink.
Having a place to easily lie down when pregnant women are feeling unwell, or a space to express breast milk, is essential for balancing research and childcare. To date, the Office for Supporting Female Researchers has provided equipment (such as sofas) to the female student lounge in the Faculty of Agriculture and has established a women-only lounge within the Office for Supporting Female Researchers. Although there are requests from other departments and research institutes to establish women-only lounges, undertaking large-scale renovations is not realistically feasible, and it has been difficult to realize this.
Therefore, the support office may be able to assist with cleaning and renovating rooms currently used as break rooms or unused spaces to create an environment that is more convenient for women to use, such as for breastfeeding and expressing milk. If your department or research institute is considering renovating its break rooms, please contact the Women Researchers Support Office first.
Human Resources Development Headquarters, Support Office for Female Researchers
freshu@synfoster.hokudai.ac.jp
Extension 3625
