By Emily GlazerThe Daily Northwestern
The official announcement of this year's tenure appointments on Thursday has given new life to old arguments that Northwestern discriminates against women when granting tenure to faculty members.
The issue came to light when news spread last week that religion Prof. Sarah Taylor did not receive tenure, sparking an outcry from students and faculty who said she more than meets qualifications. Taylor's supporters said gender discrimination is at the forefront of the decision to deny her tenure, but some administrators disagree.
"Of course Northwestern does not discriminate against females or anyone else," NU President Henry Bienen wrote in an e-mail from Croatia on Thursday.
In 1981 former sociology Prof. Janet Lever filed a lawsuit against the university, charging that gender discrimination prevented her from receiving a tenured or permanent position at NU as an associate professor.
Lever's case was not unique, and in 2000, University Provost Lawrence Dumas revived the university's Faculty Diversity Committee, saying that increasing the number of women and under-represented minorities in faculty positions should be a priority for NU.
Seven years later, the numbers are still skewed.
an issue of gender?
NU ranked ninth out of the 11 Big Ten schools in the male-to-female ratio of tenured faculty, according to a 2006 study from the American Association of University Professors. It ranked last on a list of 11 "similar universities," which included Brown and Dartmouth universities and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
Although 35 percent of NU's tenure-track faculty were women, only 23 percent of faculty members granted tenure were female, according to the study.
In other male-to-female ratio categories, such as full-time faculty, tenure-track faculty and full professor status, NU ranked no higher than seventh in the Big Ten. Among the 11 "similar universities," NU ranked no higher than tenth.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 12
Munira Merchant
posted 5/25/07 @ 3:25 PM CST
Whether it is a top ten university or a small private one, there are many examples of tenure being denied to a female faculty and if you are a female faculty of color. (Continued…)
Jim
posted 5/28/07 @ 10:26 AM CST
The article mentions repeatedly how she is an amazing teacher. That's wonderful, except that in the current graduate system, RESEARCH is what is important and what universities care about. (Continued…)
A Student
posted 5/29/07 @ 6:41 PM CST
I must say that this is a poorly written article, more like an editorial that conceals its opinions by presenting them as facts. Starting with the very title, "Females Struggle for Tenure," the claim of the piece is given to us as an objective fact. (Continued…)
The First Student
posted 5/30/07 @ 4:54 PM CST
I thank you for reiterating your statistics about "girls and boys" (how mature!). However, I read them in the original article. If you had actually taken the time to read my response before enlightening me about my errors, you would realize that you're using the same logic I was arguing against. (Continued…)
george brandes
george brandes
posted 6/05/07 @ 11:19 PM CST
Okay Mr/Ms (I don't believe you specified which) First Student,
I am not here to debate Dr. Taylor's academic qualifications and merits - for none of us are really in a position to do so. (Continued…)
Anon
posted 6/07/07 @ 12:50 PM CST
I would like to draw your attention to the following story:
http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2007/06/faculty.html
Paul Taliefero
posted 6/10/07 @ 5:56 PM CST
I cannot argue the specifics of this case, or of Northwestern's record. I can point out that we see these things in every area of life. It is foolish always to argue that it is coincidental. (Continued…)
dining room furniture
posted 11/01/07 @ 6:54 AM CST
Anon... i dont see your point.
Post a Comment