Institutionalized Sexism in Academia: Real or Perceived

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Introduction: For this research proposal I will study what effects perceived and actual sexism on the upward mobility of women in academia. It is clear that sexism effects women’s progress in many facets of society. The gender gap is especially prominent in time consuming and intensive professions such as academia. This research seeks to explore the causal factors for the gender disparities in order to help develop effective solutions. My research question is: what effects do real and perceived sexism have on women in academia? There are enormous disparities between the number of women that receive PhDs and the number of women that are tenured professors. I believe that gender roles within families, and employer’s, perceptions of mothers directly or indirectly affect women’s upward mobility in all professions. Through my qualitative and statistical analysis I will explore the institutionalized sexism in academia as well as how women’s self-perceptions affect their upward mobility. I ultimately intend to explore what portion of the sexism in academia is real or perceived; real sexism being direct and tangible disadvantages to women, and perceived sexism being disadvantages to women based on self-devaluing. In my opinion, sexism has been part of our society for so long that it is instill in women at an early age that they will not and cannot have the same mobility as men. This plays a major role in women’s lack of upward mobility in academia and other professions. This research is significant to society because in order to reduce gender disparities we must fully understand their origins. This is an issue that affects all professional women and urgently needs to be addressed. It is important to move beyond professional struc... ... middle of paper ... ...ing sexism in academia. Works Cited Ginther, Donna K., and Shulamit Kahn. "Women in Economics: Moving Up Or Falling Off the Academic Career Ladder?" The Journal of Economic Perspectives 18.3 (2004): 193-214. Print. Monroe, Kristen, et al. "Gender Equality in Academia: Bad News from the Trenches, and some Possible Solutions." Perspectives on Politics 6.2 (2008): 215-33. Print. Stack, Steven. "Gender, Children and Research Productivity." Research in Higher Education 45.8 (2004): 891-920. Print. Valian, Virginia. "Beyond Gender Schemas: Improving the Advancement of Women in Academia." NWSA Journal 16.1, (Re) Gendering Science Fields (2004): 207-20. Print. Wolfinger, Nicholas H., Mary Ann Mason, and Marc Goulden. "Problems in the Pipeline: Gender, Marriage, and Fertility in the Ivory Tower." The Journal of Higher Education 79.4 (2008): 388-405. Print.

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