Former Women Faculty: Reasons for Leaving One Research University

This report asserts that in spite of increases in efforts by universities to recruit and hire women, progress in increasing women's representation among tenured faculty continues to be slow. To increase understanding of the complex factors that influence retention of women faculty, qualitative...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors Wenzel, Stacy A, Hollenshead, Carol
Format Report
LanguageEnglish
Published For full text: http://www 1998
Subjects
College Faculty
Equal Opportunities (Jobs)
Gender Issues
Higher Education
Sex Discrimination
Teacher Attitudes
Teacher Supply and Demand
Tenure
Women Faculty
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Summary:This report asserts that in spite of increases in efforts by universities to recruit and hire women, progress in increasing women's representation among tenured faculty continues to be slow. To increase understanding of the complex factors that influence retention of women faculty, qualitative interviews were conducted with women who voluntarily left their untenured and tenured faculty positions at one research university. Informants included 8 former tenured faculty members and 13 former untenured faculty representing 6 of the colleges and schools at 1 university. Interviews were conducted by telephone, tape recorded, and transcribed for analysis. The reasons informants left university employment were not clear-cut and varied greatly, showing that influences on their decisions were multiple and interconnected. The key reasons cited included these benefits/opportunities that were denied them at the university in question and that may have been offered at a new position: (1) respect shown by colleagues; (2) opportunity for personal growth and contribution; (3) opportunities for promotion; (4) support of resources, including salary; (5) assistance in finding employment for spouses and partners; (6) assistance with dependent care responsibilities; and (7) fit with the institutions values about the kind of research they should conduct. (Contains 27 references.) (SLD)