How women faculty and staff fare at Purdue University: A qualitative study
Abstract
Women are embarking on academic careers in ever-increasing numbers. Despite these gains, disproportionately fewer women than men become full professors and/or upper level administrators. This research focuses on the position of women faculty and administrative/professional staff at Purdue University, a Midwestern Research I university. The study is guided by phenomenological inquiry and by the theoretical framework of George Ritzer integrating micro and macro level sociological theories. Through the use of qualitative methodology, the lived experiences of 67 women faculty and 99 administrative/professional women staff members were obtained by questionnaire, analyzed, and compared to a similar 1988 study conducted on the same campus. Supplemental quantitative data and studies of women faculty and staff on other Big 10 campuses are used to triangulate these data. The results are discussed based upon comparisons between the 1988 and 1997 studies in the areas of general climate, gender-based inequities, influence and power, institutional support, and worklife issues. The voices of the participants are foregrounded, and recommendations for achieving a more equitable campus community are made based upon their lived experiences, the studies of other Big Ten campuses, and the literature.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Hirth, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Higher education|Womens studies
Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server.