The Socialization Experiences of International Women Faculty at a Research University in the United States

• In Event: International Faculty in the United States: Socialization, Satisfaction, and Work Life

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to better understand how 12 international women faculty were socialized to their academic careers at one research institution in the US. For faculty, a positive socialization experience can lead to a successful academic career, whereas a negative one can cause alienation and departure (Tierney & Rhoads, 1994). Faculty attrition rates are higher for women than for men (Menges & Exum, 1983; Rothblum, 1988), and at high prestige institutions, women and faculty of color may have higher rates of attrition (Olsen, Maple, & Stage, 1995). The findings of this qualitative methodology study highlight the significant role of gender and culture in faculty members’ experiences, but also the importance of the anticipatory socialization experience.

Author

• Daniela Véliz Calderón, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile