The Perspectives of Women on the Professoriate: A Missing Piece in the Narrative on Gender Equality in the University

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 40
  In Roundtable Session: Research on Women and Education Roundtable

Abstract

The under-representation of women in the professoriate is a widely acknowledged, complex phenomenon. While in Ireland 50 % of the lecturer staff in universities are women, only 19 % of professors are women. Although data relating to the numerical picture is important, attention also needs to shift to examining the organisational culture and practices that appear to perpetuate gender divisions and patterns of behaviour. In particular, there is a complete absence of any interrogation of women professors’ perspectives on and activities in the university sphere over time. This study, located within a life history tradition, is based on interviews with 21 women professors who reflect on their experience of working as a professor in the period 1990‒2010.

Author

• Judith Harford, University College Dublin