Female Faculty Members in University Chemistry Departments: Observations and Conclusions Based on Site Visits

• Published in: Journal of chemical education Vol. 88; no. 6; pp. 716 - 720
• Main Authors: Chapman, Sally, Dixon, Felicia F, Foster, Natalie, Kuck, Valerie J, McCarthy, Deborah A, Tooney, Nancy M, Buckner, Janine P, Nolan, Susan A, Marzabadi, Cecilia H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Easton American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc 01-06-2011; Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society; American Chemical Society
• Subjects: Administrators; Barriers; Chemical Engineering; Chemistry; Chemists; College Faculty; College Science; College students; Equal Opportunities (Jobs); Females; Focus Groups; Graduate Students; Interviews; Organic chemistry; Perceptions; Professional Isolation; Search Committees (Personnel); Surveys; Teacher Selection; Tenure; University faculty; Women; Women Faculty; Women in Chemistry; Graduate Education/Research; Upper-Division Undergraduate; Administrative Issues; Professional Development
• DOI: 10.1021/ed100098q
• EISSN: 1938-1328
• ISSN: 0021-9584

Oral interviews in focus groups and written surveys were conducted with 877 men and women, including administrators, faculty members, postdoctoral associates, and graduate students, during one-day site visits to chemistry and chemical engineering departments at 28 Ph.D.-granting institutions. This report is a preliminary review of the perceptions of the situation for female tenured and tenure-track academic chemists based on the data collected during these visits. Some interesting differences are seen in responses at departments with more female faculty members as compared with departments with fewer female faculty members. Although many women are thriving, some feel isolated and marginalized. Gender barriers to success persist on both individual and institutional levels; changing this presents a serious and continuing challenge.