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<p>I think most people do enter the academic job market with their eyes open, and make the necessary compromises with spouses or partners. Often, however, the compromise includes the academic breadwinner’s agreeing to consider relocation if and when an opportunity opens up that would enhance career opportunities for the “trailing” spouse. I can’t begin to count the number of potential lateral candidates I’ve interviewed who are interested in relocating in part, or sometimes primarily, due to spousal pressure. It’s not that these people were blind to what life in a small college town would be like for the spouse; they knew it and decided to marry (or partner) anyway with the understanding that if the right opportunities arose, they’d be out of there.</p>