Why so Few, Still? Challenges to Attracting, Advancing, and Keeping Women Faculty of Color in Academia

From its earliest beginnings, the university was not designed for women, and certainly not for women of color. Women of color in the United States are disproportionately under-represented in academia and are conspicuous by their absence across disciplines at senior ranks, particularly at research-in...

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Main Authors: Jean E. Fox Tree, Jyotsna Vaid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Sociology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2021.792198/full
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author Jean E. Fox Tree
Jyotsna Vaid
author_facet Jean E. Fox Tree
Jyotsna Vaid
author_sort Jean E. Fox Tree
collection DOAJ
description From its earliest beginnings, the university was not designed for women, and certainly not for women of color. Women of color in the United States are disproportionately under-represented in academia and are conspicuous by their absence across disciplines at senior ranks, particularly at research-intensive universities. This absence has an epistemic impact and affects future generations of scholars who do not see themselves represented in the academy. What are the barriers to attracting, advancing, and retaining women faculty of color in academia? To address this question we review empirical studies that document disparities in the assessment of research, teaching, and service in academia that have distinct implications for the hiring, promotion, and professional visibility of women of color. We argue that meaningful change in the representation, equity, and prestige of women faculty of color will require validating their experiences, supporting and valuing their research, creating opportunities for their professional recognition and advancement, and implementing corrective action for unjust assessment practices.
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spelling doaj.art-38d5a5fa7c67401db6354e59fb7fab872022-12-22T04:12:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sociology2297-77752022-01-01610.3389/fsoc.2021.792198792198Why so Few, Still? Challenges to Attracting, Advancing, and Keeping Women Faculty of Color in AcademiaJean E. Fox Tree0Jyotsna Vaid1Psychology Department, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesPsychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United StatesFrom its earliest beginnings, the university was not designed for women, and certainly not for women of color. Women of color in the United States are disproportionately under-represented in academia and are conspicuous by their absence across disciplines at senior ranks, particularly at research-intensive universities. This absence has an epistemic impact and affects future generations of scholars who do not see themselves represented in the academy. What are the barriers to attracting, advancing, and retaining women faculty of color in academia? To address this question we review empirical studies that document disparities in the assessment of research, teaching, and service in academia that have distinct implications for the hiring, promotion, and professional visibility of women of color. We argue that meaningful change in the representation, equity, and prestige of women faculty of color will require validating their experiences, supporting and valuing their research, creating opportunities for their professional recognition and advancement, and implementing corrective action for unjust assessment practices.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2021.792198/fullwomen of colorscholars of coloracademiabarriershiringretention
spellingShingle Jean E. Fox Tree
Jyotsna Vaid
Why so Few, Still? Challenges to Attracting, Advancing, and Keeping Women Faculty of Color in Academia
Frontiers in Sociology
women of color
scholars of color
academia
barriers
hiring
retention
title Why so Few, Still? Challenges to Attracting, Advancing, and Keeping Women Faculty of Color in Academia
title_full Why so Few, Still? Challenges to Attracting, Advancing, and Keeping Women Faculty of Color in Academia
title_fullStr Why so Few, Still? Challenges to Attracting, Advancing, and Keeping Women Faculty of Color in Academia
title_full_unstemmed Why so Few, Still? Challenges to Attracting, Advancing, and Keeping Women Faculty of Color in Academia
title_short Why so Few, Still? Challenges to Attracting, Advancing, and Keeping Women Faculty of Color in Academia
title_sort why so few still challenges to attracting advancing and keeping women faculty of color in academia
topic women of color
scholars of color
academia
barriers
hiring
retention
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2021.792198/full
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