I Had Multiple Miscarriages – Now Put Them On My Résumé – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Flickr)
Raina Brands, a professor, has drawn attention to a common but rarely discussed issue in professional records. Multiple miscarriages created a clear gap in her documented productivity. She maintains that this period should not be interpreted as a sign of failure.
Viewing Career Interruptions Differently
Brands has argued that traditional résumé formats fail to capture the full scope of a person’s professional journey. Gaps often arise from deeply personal circumstances that carry significant weight. Treating those interruptions solely as deficits overlooks the resilience required to return to work afterward. Her position challenges long-standing assumptions about what belongs in a formal career summary. Many professionals face similar disruptions yet hesitate to explain them. Brands proposes a more direct approach that acknowledges these events as part of lived experience rather than hidden liabilities.
Implications for Hiring and Evaluation
Employers and academic institutions frequently scan résumés for continuous output. This practice can disadvantage candidates whose records reflect major life events. Brands suggests that transparency about such periods could lead to fairer assessments. The idea raises questions about how workplaces define productivity and success. It also highlights the need for clearer guidelines on what information candidates may choose to share. Supporters of the approach see it as a step toward reducing stigma around reproductive health challenges.
Broader Conversations on Professional Honesty
The discussion initiated by Brands connects to ongoing efforts to make career documentation more reflective of real life. Several fields have begun to reconsider rigid expectations around unbroken timelines. Her stance adds a specific example to these wider debates. As more professionals consider similar disclosures, the conversation may influence how résumés evolve in the coming years. The core message remains straightforward: certain gaps deserve recognition rather than concealment.
