Women Faculty in STEM Disciplines: Perceptions of Tenure Clarity and Departmental Practices

• In Event: 2160 - Gender inequality

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to explore predictors of perceptions of clarity of tenure expectations for faculty in STEM and non-STEM fields. We use gendered organization theory as the conceptual lens with which to examine whether for four groups of faculty (women in STEM, men in STEM, women in non-STEM and men in non-STEM) assessment of fit and diversity within the department, fairness in tenure decisions and evaluations, messages about requirements for tenure, mentoring, and relationships with peers have a similar effect on their assessment of clarity of tenure expectations. Data from the Harvard University Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) survey of tenure-track faculty job satisfaction (2011, 2012) is used. Findings reveal that compared to all other faculty, women in STEM fields are less likely to perceive the expectations for tenure as clear. Other bivariate results suggest that compared to men in both STEM and non-STEM fields, women in STEM are less likely to assess tenure decisions and evaluations as fair, the messages about requirements for tenure as consistent, mentoring as effective, and relationships with peers and fit within the department as satisfactory. Multivariate results showed that except for the sense of fit within the department and mentoring, for women in STEM, all the other independent variables (fairness in tenure decisions and evaluations, messages about requirements for tenure), have a significant influence on their assessment of clarity of tenure expectations.

Authors

• Rodica Lisnic, University of Arkansas

• Anna Zajicek, University of Arkansas

• Brinck Kerr, University of Arkansas