Gender in academic STEM: A focus on men faculty

Negin Sattari, Rebecca L. Sandefur

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this study, we explore how men faculty understand the role of gender in shaping faculty experiences in academic science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and how they position themselves in relation to inequalities disfavouring women. Our data reveal diversity among men in their understandings regarding challenges facing women in STEM. The majority of our participants revealed gender-blind perspectives and argued that the egalitarian structure of academia does not allow gender to impact attainments in STEM in any significant way. However, a considerable number of them felt privileged compared to women and described subtle ways in which gender shapes opportunities. Our findings show the important implications of men's sensitivity to gender in the ways they perform their professional roles as, for example, mentors, colleagues and teachers in relation to women in STEM. They further call for attention to men's perceptions of gender issues when designing institutional interventions for improving women's conditions in STEM.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)158-179
Number of pages22
JournalGender, Work and Organization
Volume26
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • STEM
  • academia
  • gender inequality
  • gender segregation
  • masculinity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gender Studies
  • Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

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