Skip to main content
Log in

Comparative career accomplishments of two decades of women and men doctoral graduates in education

  • Published:
Research in Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Patterns of doctoral study and subsequent career progress were compared for 756 men and women doctoral graduates in education at a research university from two six-year periods, one before and one after a rapid nation-wide increase in the percentage of women doctorates. Despite advantages relative to men in admission, financial support and full-time study, women doctorates of both periods had achieved less career progress than men but held similarly positive perceptions concerning career impact of the degree. Work experience prior to doctoral study strongly predicted career progress for both genders. Thus, affirmative action may have positively affected the careers of recent women doctorates who were younger and who began study with less established careers than women doctorates prior to 1970.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahren, N. C. and Scott, E. L. (1981).Career Outcomes in a Matched Sample of Men and Women Ph.D.s: An Analytical Report. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg, H. M. and Ferber, M. A. (1983). Men and women graduate students: Who succeeds and why?Journal of Higher Education 54(6): 629–648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biklen, S. K., and Brannigan, M. B. (1980).Women and Educational Leadership. Lexington, Mass.: D.C. Heath.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broschart, K. R. (1978). Family status and professional achievement: A study of women doctorates.Journal of Marriage and the Family 40(1): 71–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centra, J. A. (1975). Women with doctorates.Change 7(1): 49, 61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denmark, F. L. (1978). Women in psychology in the United States.Resources in Education, ED 171 166.

  • Ekstrom, R. B. (1979). Women faculty: development, promotion and pay.ETS Findings 5: 2 (Princeton, N.J.: Educational Testing Service).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferber, M. A., and Kordick, B. (1978). Sex differentials in earnings of Ph.D.s.Industrial and Labor Relations Review 31(2): 227–238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gappa, J. M., and Uehling, B.S. (1979).Women in Academe: Steps to Greater Equality. Washington, D.C.: American Association for Higher Education. ERIC/AAHE Research Report No. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansot, E., and Tyack, D. (1982). The golden age for school administrators?The Stanford Educator, Fall.

  • Hartnett, R. T. (1981). Sex differences in the environment of graduate students and faculty.Research in Higher Education 14(3): 211–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holahan, C. K. (1979). Stress experienced by women doctoral students, need for support and occupational sex typing: An interactional view.Sex Roles: A Journal of Research 5(4): 425–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hornig, L. (1980).Climbing the Academic Ladder: Doctoral Women Scientists in Academe. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences. National Research Council. May.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorang, W. G., and Terenzini, P. T. (1982). Discipline-related differences among recent doctoral degree recipients. Paper presented at the forum of the Association for Institutional Research, Denver.

  • Malin, J. T., Bray, J. H., Dougherty, T. W. and Skinner, W. K. (1980). Factors affecting the performance and satisfaction of adult men and women attending college.Research in Higher Education 13(2): 115–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Randour, M. L., Strausberg, G. L., and Lipman-Blumen, J. (1982). Women in higher education: trends in enrollment and degrees earned.Harvard Educational Review 52: 189–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roemer, R. E. (1983). Changing patterns of degree selection among women: 1970–78.Research in Higher Education 18(4): 435–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shann, H. (1983). Career plans of men and women in gender-dominant professions,Journal of Vocational Behavior 22: 343–346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solmon, L. C. (1973). Women in doctoral education: clues and puzzles regarding institutional discrimination.Research in Higher Education 1(4): 299–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tidball, M. E. (1976). Of men and research: the dominant themes in American higher education include neither teaching nor women.Journal of Higher Education 47(4): 373–389.

    Google Scholar 

  • University of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham Graduate School (1974). The higher, the fewer. Report of a committee to study the status of women in graduate education and later careers. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan.

    Google Scholar 

  • University of Michigan (1983). Surviving and thriving in graduate and professional school: Women at the university.Center for Continuing Education of Women Newsletter 11: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, H. Y. and Sanders, J. M. (1983). Gender differences in the attainment of doctorates.Sociological Perspectives 26(1): 29–50.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stark, J.S., Lowther, M.A. & Austin, A.E. Comparative career accomplishments of two decades of women and men doctoral graduates in education. Res High Educ 22, 219–249 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00974052

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00974052

Keywords

Navigation