🔍💡 Parenthoods in Higher Education and Research: a comprehensive lexicon to discuss families, leave, abortion, violence, and mental load without making invisible precarious, LGBTQI+ or disabled parents. #EqualityFH #HigherEducation
🧩👶 Writing an email, a regulation, a HR procedure without excluding single-parent, same-sex or trans families? This lexicon directly equips teams, supervisors, and health services.
🔍➕ 🎯 RELEVANCE ON THE GROUND
For an equality-diversity mission officer or a university HR service, this lexicon provides a clear framework to concretely address leave, diverse parenthoods, and gender-related discrimination in Higher Education and Research.
For a university health professional or a SSE, it allows for the adaptation of reception, perinatal support, abortion/IMG, post-partum mental health, and situations of violence, with precise and inclusive vocabulary.
For social/medico-social actors linked to students and staff, it serves as a quick reference to secure practices and guide towards the right rights and provisions (leave, allowances, AMP, GPA, etc.)
Source: 📒 Lexicon of Parenthoods. For a culture of equality in higher education and research
📜🔗LINK
1. ANALYTICAL SUMMARY
Context, issues, and audiences
The lexicon is part of the recent evolution of the French legal framework: national plans for professional equality in higher education and research (2021-2023 then 2025-2027), the law on the transformation of the public service (2019), and the 2023 circular on the diversity of families and transgender people in the public service. It targets all higher education and research institutions, considering the diversity of statuses (students, doctoral candidates, BIATSS, teacher-researchers, temporary staff, etc.). The document starts from the observation of a parenthood structured by a dominant cis-heterosexual model, significant gender inequalities (mental load, part-time work, careers), and intersecting discriminations (LGBTQI+, single parenthood, disability, precariousness, origin). It emphasises the plurality of 'parenthoods' (familial, cultural, legal, emotional) and the language issues in equality policies, internal documents, forms, and communications.
Operational contributions for the field
The document provides a structured lexicon with thematic entries: "Making a family", "Leave", "Matrescence", "Bodies and intimate experiences", "Gender roles and unpaid work", "Gender-based violence", "Risks of increased discrimination", followed by a section on "Expressions to avoid / to prefer", completed with a glossary and acronyms. Each entry combines definitions, framing data (Insee, DREES, EIGE, ministerial reports), legal references (Labour Code, Public Health Code, CGFP, recent case law on GPA/AMP/IVG) and usage examples. The tool allows for the revision of registration forms, regulations, agreements, and communication materials by integrating co-parenting, same-sex parenting, transparency, blended families, and single-parent families. It also offers guidelines for support practices (postpartum, parental burnout, abortion, medical termination of pregnancy, perinatal grief, family caregivers) and non-stigmatising linguistic recommendations for professionals and volunteers.
2. KEY POINTS OF THE DOCUMENT
The notion of "parentalities" in the plural
The lexicon establishes from the outset that parenthood is neither unique nor limited to the cis-heterosexual model, but encompasses a diversity of family, identity, and cultural configurations (same-sex families, queer, transparency, platonic co-parenting, blended families, single-parent families, specific contexts of Réunion/New Caledonia). Framing note and section "Making a family", pp. 5-9.
Detailed mapping of leave and rights related to parenthood in the public and private sectors.
The document precisely describes so-called maternity leave, paternity/childcare leave, birth leave, adoption leave, parental leave, caregiver leave, parental presence, pregnancy/AMP leave, day donations, referring to legislative articles and the concrete effects for ESR staff. Section "The Different Types of Leave", p. 11-15.
Visibility of matrescence, perinatal mental health, and parental burnout
The lexicon explicitly defines matrescence, postpartum, puerperal psychosis, parental burnout, highlighting that postpartum can last on average three years, that postpartum depression affects about 30% of mothers and 18% of fathers, and that suicide is the leading cause of maternal mortality up to one year after birth. Section "Matrescence", p. 16-17.
Clarification of the concepts of AMP, GPA, abortion, IMG and their recent ethical, legal, and social issues
The document details access to AMP, restrictions for trans men, feminist debates on GPA, conditions for recognition of parentage abroad, the inclusion of the right to access abortion in the Constitution (8 March 2024), and recent data on abortion (approximately 220,000 per year, reasons cited by students). Section "Body and Intimate Experiences", p. 18-21.
Link between parenting, gender inequalities, and discrimination in ESR
The lexicon documents mental load, domestic and care work, impact on careers (part-time work, remote work, teaching assignments), gender-based violence, and intersecting discrimination (gender, race, class, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity), relying on barometers, surveys, and recent research. Sections "Gender Roles and Unpaid Work", "Gender-Based Violence", "Risks of Increased Discrimination", p. 22-30.
3. ACTION POINTS FOR LOCAL ACTORS
Review internal documents with the relevant terminology at hand (HR, education, SSE, student life)
Use entries on different family types (same-sex, blended, transparent families) and on leave to reformulate regulations, forms (civil status, contact person, leave), web materials and internal charters while avoiding stigmatising or excluding expressions. Rely particularly on "Making a Family" and "Expressions to Avoid / to Promote", pp. 6-9 and 32-37.
Integrate parenthood and matrescence into equality plans and QVT actions
Based on data on mental load, leave and perinatal mental health, include parenthoods (in the plural) as a priority axis in professional equality plans and psychosocial risk prevention plans: raising awareness among supervisors, flexible working hours, remote work, leave return policy. Sections "Leave", "Matrescence", "Gender Roles and Unpaid Work", pp. 11-17 and 22-24.
Train health/social reception teams on the specifics of parental pathways
Use definitions of abortion, medical termination of pregnancy, perinatal grief, parental burnout, puerperal psychosis, assisted reproduction and surrogacy to create joint training modules (SSE, social workers, equality missions, disability services) aimed at better identifying vulnerable situations and providing appropriate guidance. Sections "Matrescence" and "Body and Intimate Experiences", pp. 16-21.
Equip educational supervisors and laboratory managers on invisible burdens
Based on the sections "Gender Roles and Unpaid Work" and data on the mental load of female teachers-researchers and doctoral students, open discussion spaces in departments, UFRs, and research units to redistribute pedagogical-administrative tasks, clarify expectations towards academic staff, and limit informal requests. p. 22-24.
Make visible the discriminated parenthoods in student systems.
Adapt scholarship schemes, emergency aid, class schedules, and assessment methods by integrating the realities of student parents, single parents, LGBTQI+ individuals, or those in precarious situations/disabilities, relying on the sections "Risks of Increased Discrimination" and the territorialised examples (Réunion, New Caledonia). p. 7-8 and 30-31.
4. ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
🔍➕ For more information, see the articles referenced by "Health Practices" on the topic of parenthood ➡️🔗https://pratiquesensante.odoo.com/5-3-parentaliteand on the topic of students.➡️🔗
5. CROSS-ANALYSIS — VALUES OF HEALTH PRACTICES
Literacy: The document clarifies each term, refers to examples and online resources, but remains written in expert language requiring mediation for audiences not comfortable with institutional texts.
Empowerment: It emphasises reproductive freedom (choosing whether or not to be a parent, assisted reproduction, abortion), the recognition of trans and queer parenthoods, and the right not to breastfeed, which supports the agency of the individuals concerned.
Participation: The content is based on field experiences from equality-diversity missions and research work, but the direct participation of student parents and staff remains poorly described.
Community health: The text highlights the collective dimensions (extended family solidarities in Réunion, Kanak organisation in New Caledonia, support networks) and the challenges of organising establishments, which aligns with a community approach to parenting.
Ethics: It identifies sexist, heteronormative, and cisnormative biases, critiques stigmatising expressions, and proposes more respectful language, also questioning the issues of surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology.
Human rights: The document adopts a perspective of equality, non-discrimination, recognition of LGBTQI+ families, trans parents, single-parent families, and sexual and reproductive rights (abortion, medical termination of pregnancy).
Intersectorality: It articulates labour law, public service, health, social work, student life, and mentions possible partnerships with CAF, MSA, SSE, feminist and LGBTQI+ associations.
Partnership: It values the role of equality-diversity missions as intermediaries in establishments and refers to collaborations with HR services, management, SSE, and student associations, without detailing formalised models.
Combating discrimination: The text specifically documents discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, racism, precariousness, disability, and emphasises non-judgement (abortion, perinatal grief, trans parenting, surrogacy).
6. EVALUATION OF THE RELIABILITY OF THE RESOURCE
Scientific relevance
The lexicon is based on identified sources: legal texts (Legifrance), national plans, DREES reports, Insee, ENCMM, academic work (gender sociology, parenthood, AMP/GPA, mental load), institutional resources (AP-HP, Family Planning). The statistical data (abortion, single-parent families, division of tasks) is recent (up to 2025) and referenced. The methodology is not explicitly detailed (no original survey), but the work of compilation and definition follows a logic of literature review and updated legal monitoring.
Operational relevance
The resource is directly usable by equality missions, HR, SSE, management, and supervisors: ready-to-use definitions, legal references, examples of terminology ("co-parent" leave), linguistic recommendations, links to online public services. It does not provide ready-made tools (checklists or procedures) but serves as a reference base for building internal guides, charters, training, and communication materials.
VIGILANCE POINTS IN TRAINING
Risks of emotional triggering:
The document addresses sensitive topics: perinatal grief, abortion, medical termination of pregnancy, spontaneous pregnancy loss, post-partum psychosis, gender-based violence, LGBTphobic discrimination, precarious situations, surrogacy, parental burnout.
In training facilitation:
Inform participants about potentially difficult content (pregnancy, loss of a child, violence, abortion).
Plan for breaks, a possible withdrawal space, and listening resources (SSE, psychologists, associations).
Never ask individuals to share a personal story; allow free and non-obligatory speech.
Adopt a non-judgmental vocabulary and respect everyone's choices (abortion, breastfeeding, assisted reproductive technology, gender identity).
7. Multiple Choice Questions — 5 QUESTIONS
PART 1 — Multiple Choice Questions (without answers)
Question 1 (pp. 6‑8) :
In the glossary, why is the term "parentalities" used in the plural?
a) To distinguish married parents from civil partners
b) To include different family configurations and parental relationships
c) To refer only to blended families
d) To comply with a recent legal obligation
Question 2 (pp. 11‑14) :
Paternity or child care leave, as described in the glossary, is characterised by:
a) Being reserved for fathers married to the child's mother
b) Not being able to be taken in parts
c) Starting at the end of maternity leave and being available to the spouse, partner, or cohabitant of the mother
d) Not being cumulative with adoption leave
Question 3 (pp. 16‑17) :
Postpartum (or puerperal) psychosis is characterised notably by:
a) A moderate sad mood that disappears in less than 15 days
b) Hallucinations and a high risk of suicide requiring urgent hospitalisation
c) A physical inability to breastfeed the child
d) Simple stress related to returning to work
Question 4 (pp. 18‑21) :
According to the glossary, since 8 March 2024, in France:
a) Assisted reproductive technology is open to all men, including trans men, without restriction
b) The guaranteed right to access abortion is enshrined in the Constitution
c) Surrogacy is legalised and regulated within the national territory
d) Abortion is limited to 10 weeks of amenorrhea
Question 5 (p. 22‑24) :
The concept of "mental load" primarily refers to:
a) The workload associated with paid overtime
b) The visible management of administrative tasks by managers
c) An intangible, constant work of planning and organisation, often borne by women
d) The fatigue related to commuting between home and work
PART 2 — COMMENTED CORRECTION
Question 1 (p. 6‑8)
✅ Correct answer: b) To include different family configurations and parental relationships
📝 Explanation: The lexicon explains that "parentalities" in the plural refers to all the ways of being and experiencing parenthood, including various statuses, family forms (same-sex, blended, single-parent, queer) and cultural contexts. Source: Framework note, p. 5‑6, "Making a Family", p. 6‑8.
Question 2 (p. 11‑14)
✅ Correct answer: c) To start at the end of the birth leave and be open to the spouse, partner or cohabitant of the mother
📝 Explanation: The lexicon specifies that the so-called paternity or child care leave begins after the birth leave, is open to the father or the person living with the mother (even without marriage), and can be split under certain conditions. Source: "The different types of leave", paternity/child care leave, p. 13.
Question 3 (p. 16‑17)
✅ Correct answer: b) Hallucinations and a high risk of suicide requiring urgent hospitalisation
📝 Explanation: Post-partum psychosis is described as rare but serious, associated with hallucinations, disorientation, intense anxiety, and a risk of suicide or infanticide, requiring urgent psychiatric hospitalisation, to be distinguished from post-partum depression. Source: "Post-partum or puerperal psychosis", p. 17.
Question 4 (p. 18-21)
✅ Correct answer: b) The guaranteed right to access abortion is enshrined in the Constitution
📝 Explanation: The lexicon reminds us that since 8 March 2024, the guaranteed right of women to access a voluntary termination of pregnancy is enshrined in the French Constitution, without legalising surrogacy or altering the access to assisted reproductive technology for trans men. Source: entry "Abortion", p. 21.
Question 5 (p. 22-24)
✅ Correct answer: c) An intangible, constant work of planning and organisation, often borne by women
📝 Explanation: Mental load is defined as a work of management, organisation, and planning, intangible but essential for the smooth running of the household, predominantly assumed by women, with effects on their physical and mental health. Source: "Mental load", p. 23-24.
8. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Who is this lexicon aimed at in a higher education institution?
It is aimed at equality-diversity missions, management, HR services, student health services, social workers, educational supervisors, as well as students, doctoral candidates, and staff wishing to understand the issues of parenthood and equality. p. 4-5 (introduction, presentation of the CPED and the working group).
Why does the document emphasise language and expressions to avoid so much?
Because certain terms render some parents (same-sex, trans, single) invisible or reinforce sexist and LGBTphobic stereotypes. The lexicon suggests replacing these expressions with more inclusive and legally accurate formulations. p. 32-37.
How can the lexicon be concretely used to review HR practices?
HR services can rely on the definitions of leave, ASA, day donations, and caregiver to update memos, practical sheets, HR intranets, and leave request forms, while recognising the diversity of families. p. 11-15 and 32-37.
How is the document useful for a university health service or a SSE?
It helps identify key concepts of perinatal health (postpartum, puerperal psychosis, parental burnout), abortion, fetal reduction, perinatal grief, and assisted reproductive technology, and better understand the psychosocial issues of student and staff parents to adapt reception and guidance. p. 16-21.
Does the lexicon address situations of domestic and intra-family violence?
Yes, a section is dedicated to gender-based violence and the risks of increased discrimination, including domestic violence, intra-family violence, LGBTQIphobic or racist violence, with particular attention to contexts of economic dependency, parenthood, and precariousness. p. 26-31.
How to integrate the specific realities of territories like Réunion or New Caledonia?
The lexicon describes specific family models and solidarities (matrifocality, Kanak kinship), in order to avoid imposing a single metropolitan model and to better take into account local contexts in equality policies and support measures. p. 7-8.
Can the document serve as a basis for internal training?
Yes, the definitions, examples, and legal references allow for the construction of training modules on parenthood, professional equality, gender-based violence, discrimination, abortion/assisted reproduction/surrogacy, and inclusive language, aimed at supervisors, administrative staff, and teaching teams. p. 4-5 and all thematic sections.
9. REWRITING IN EASY TO READ LANGUAGE
Easy to Read Title
Parenthood in the university
A lexicon to better understand and respect all families
Analytical summary in Easy to Read Language
1. Context and issues (Easy to Read Language)
In universities, many people are parents.
There are very different families: heterosexual couples, same-sex female couples, same-sex male couples, trans parents, blended families, single-parent families.
Laws have changed to better protect equality between women and men and the rights of parents.
But inequalities remain, especially for women and LGBTQI+ individuals.
This lexicon explains important words about family, leave, and health.
2. Operational contributions (Easy to Read Language)
The lexicon provides simple definitions to talk about families and leave.
It explains the rights of parents: maternity leave, parental leave, leave for a sick child, leave for a caregiver.
It also discusses pregnancy, post-partum, parental burnout, abortion, and medical termination of pregnancy.
It shows that women often do more tasks at home and at work.
It suggests words to avoid and words to use to respect all individuals.
Key points in Easy to Read and Understand (FALC)
Parenthoods in plural
There is not just one way to be a parent.
The lexicon talks about all families: same-sex families, blended families, single-parent families, families with trans parents.
The aim is to leave no one behind.
Leave for parents
The lexicon explains leave for the birth or adoption of a child.
It details the rules for maternity leave, paternity leave, birth leave, and parental leave.
It also describes leave to care for a sick child or a dependent person.
Mental health after birth
After childbirth, parents can experience very strong emotions.
The lexicon discusses post-partum, depression, and post-partum psychosis.
It explains that this requires support and sometimes urgent hospitalisation.
Sexual and reproductive rights
The lexicon explains abortion and medical termination of pregnancy, with the current legal framework.
It also discusses assisted reproductive technology and surrogacy, along with ethical and legal questions.
It reminds that the freedom to access abortion is protected in the Constitution.
Mental load and gender inequalities
The lexicon shows that women often manage the organisation of the household.
They do many invisible tasks at home and at university.
This can harm their health and their careers.