ERIC Number: EJ1098445
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1938-9809
EISSN: N/A
Reflections on the Current Status of Women in American Higher Education
Robbins, Lillian; Robbins, Edwin
Forum on Public Policy Online, v2006 n1 Fall 2006
Since World War II, American women have gained much greater access to higher education, with women now 56% of undergraduates, and approximately half of medical and law school students, as well as attaining 49% of PhD's. Despite their greater representation, women pursuing professional careers still experience considerable stress. At the institutional level, career opportunities remain unequal, with men still earning better pay at all ranks and having greater access to resources, as well as continuing to predominate as senior faculty. Fewer women gain tenured positions and promotions than in the 1970's, as the enforcement of Affirmative Action policies has slackened, and increasing numbers of courses are taught by contingent faculty. At the personal level, many women feel ambivalent about working when they have young children, and there are many potential conflicts if dual careers are involved, especially if there are heavy training-incurred debts, and if jobs entail difficult commutes or no work for one partner. We will review data on faculty rank and salary over the years, and discuss the implications of shifts in the academic environment as they interact with changing aspects of personal relationships and social expectations.
Descriptors: Females, Womens Education, Access to Education, Higher Education, Postsecondary Education, Equal Education, Employment Level, Women Faculty, Tenure, Family Work Relationship, Teacher Salaries, Gender Bias
Oxford Round Table. 406 West Florida Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801. Tel: 217-344-0237; Fax: 217-344-6963; e-mail: editor@forumonpublicpolicy.com; Web site: http://www.forumonpublicpolicy.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A