leaky pipe phenomenon
n.— «The “leaky pipe” phenomenon describes the tendency of women in science to slip away after each level of study at a far greater rate than men do. There are many explanations for this—competing loyalties, feelings of isolation and self-doubt, a lack of cash or high-level sponsorship.» —“Why female academics drop out” by Peggy Curran The Gazette (Montreal, Canada) Feb. 6, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
After our conversation about nighttime wakefulness, a Sacramento, California, woman shares the funny story behind the term she and her husband use for that phenomenon: squeegee. This is part of a complete episode.
Related
Ribbon fall. Gallery forest. You won’t find terms like these in most dictionaries, but they and hundreds like them are discussed by famous writers in the book Home Ground: A Guide to the American Landscape. The book is an intriguing collection...