Less than a month after the Census Bureau released data from the American Community Survey that demonstrated a striking segregation by gender between occupations and persisting pay disparities between men and women, The New York Times has reported on a new study that shows that men are more likely to receive tenure at a college or university than women. “Keeping Women in the Science Pipeline,” written by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, concludes that while more woman than ever are obtaining Ph.D.'s in sciences, they are less likely than their male counterparts to obtain tenure at a college or university. Women who are married with young children are 35 percent less likely to enter a tenure-track position after receiving a Ph.D. in science than their male counterparts. Married women with young children are 28 percent less likely than women without children to achieve tenure in the sciences. And women Ph.D.’s with young children are 27 percent less likely than men with children to receive tenure after entering a tenure-track job in the sciences.
The scientists explain that these numbers are related to the absence of paid maternity leave in most research universities. Additionally, there are massive time demands on faculty, which are particularly challenging for women, who must combine their work with caregiving, house work, etc.
"America's researchers do not receive enough family-responsive benefits, particularly the more junior researchers. All major research universities should look to build a family-friendly package of policies and resources," concludes the report. Indeed, the scientists recommend that universities institute more "family-friendly" policies to encourage women Ph.D.’s to continue with their careers. These measures would include paid maternity leave to graduate students and giving extra time to women who give birth before making tenure decisions. "The lock-step timing of academia needs to be more flexible," they write.
The scientists warn that the failure of universities to adopt these policies may have severe consequences for the U.S. "The loss of these women, together with serious increases in European and Asian nations' capacity for research, means the long-term dependability of a highly trained U.S. workforce and global preeminence in the sciences may be in question," they argue.
At least one university is heading the warning – the University of California, the home of the authors of the report. Since 2003, when the University system instituted more family-friendly policies, the number of assistant professors in the system with children has risen 27% percent, to 64% out of all assistant professors. "It shows that you can change the workplace culture," said Dr. Mason, the report's lead author.
The ability of women to achieve tenure and general workplace security like their male counterparts is an urgent challenge that must be addressed by all colleges and universities.
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Less than a month after the Census Bureau released data from the American Community Survey that demonstrated a striking segregation by gender between occupations and persisting pay disparities between men and women, The New York Times has reported on a new study that shows that men are more likely to receive tenure at a college or university than women. “Keeping Women in the Science Pipeline,” written by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, concludes that while more woman than ever are obtaining Ph.D.'s in sciences, they are less likely than their male counterparts to obtain tenure at a college or university. Women who married with young children are 35 percent less likely to enter a tenure-track position after receiving a Ph.D. in science than are married men with young children and Ph.D.’s in science. The married women with young children are 28 percent less likely than women without children to achieve tenure in the sciences. And women Ph.D.’s with young children are 27 percent less likely than men with children to receive tenure after entering a tenure-track job in the sciences.
The scientists explain that these numbers are related to the absence of paid maternity leave in most research universities. Additionally, there are massive time demands on faculty, which has a particular consequence for women, who must combine their work with caregiving, house work, etc.
“America’s researchers do not receive enough family-responsive benefits, particularly the more junior researchers. All major research universities should look to build a family-friendly package of policies and resources,” concludes the report. Indeed, the scientists recommend that universities institute more “family-friendly” policies to encourage women Ph.D.’s to continue with their careers. These measures would include paid maternity leave to graduate students and giving extra time to women who give birth before making tenure decisions. “The lock-step timing of academia needs to be more flexible,” they write.
The scientists warn that the failure of universities to adopt these policies may have severe consequences for the U.S. “The loss of these women, together with serious increases in European and Asian nations’ capacity for research, means the long-term dependability of a highly trained U.S. workforce and global preeminence in the sciences may be in question,” they write.
At least one university is heading the warning – the University of California, the home of the authors of the report. Since 2003, when the University system instituted more family-friendly policies, the number of assistant professors in the system with children has risen 27% percent, to 64% of all assistant professors. “It shows that you can change the workplace culture,” said Ms. Mason, the report’s main author.
The ability of women to achieve tenure and general workplace security like their male counterparts is an urgent challenge that must be addressed by all colleges and universities.
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