Perpetuating the Devaluation of Historically Feminized Academic Fields: Use of Public Funds in a Formula Funding Approach

• In Event: Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual iPresentation Only: Division J - Section 6: Society, Culture, History, and Change Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

Gender based wage discrimination is a well-documented issue in U.S. higher education. Studies have reported that occupational feminization - the increase of women’s representation in an occupation - can be predictive of lower wages. This study investigated formula funding and its use of weighted academic disciplines as a contributing variable to the devaluation of historically feminized academic fields. Because Texas was an early adopter of formula funding and established a model that has been utilized across the U.S., data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) were utilized for this quantitative descriptive analysis. Findings revealed between-occupation differences between women- and men-dominant academic fields, and within-occupational differences for women faculty paid less than men faculty within the same academic field.

Authors

• Valerie Paton, Texas Tech University

• Catherine Shepard, Texas Tech University

• Stephanie J. Jones, Texas Tech University