Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Whatever Happened to Gender Equality in Australian and New Zealand Universities?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Gender, Power and Higher Education in a Globalised World

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Gender and Education ((GED))

Abstract

This chapter examines why progress towards getting more women into senior management has been slow in Australian and New Zealand public universities. It argues that despite implementation of gender-equality policies, the structural sources of gender equality have not been tackled. Most recently this has been reflected in merging gender equality with other initiatives, transforming it from a separate and stand-alone goal. The data is derived from senior managers who were responsible for gender equality during COVID-19 and an analysis of the strategic plans of all public universities. While such senior managers expressed a commitment to change, the university strategic plans revealed either an absence of gender-equality initiatives or their low priority. “Gender” has mostly been subsumed into crowded equity/diversity/inclusion portfolios, making gender inequality invisible.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    We would like to thank Dr Graeme Whimp for his excellent background research for the New Zealand part of this project.

References

  • Acker, S. (2014). A Foot in the Revolving Door? Women Academics in Lower Middle Management. Higher Education Research and Development, 33, 73–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagilhole, B., & White, K. (Eds.). (2011a). Gender, Power and Management: A Cross Cultural Analysis of Higher Education. Palgrave.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagilhole, B., & White, K. (2011b). Towards Intervention for Senior Women in Higher Education. In B. Bagilhole & K. White (Eds.), Gender, Power and Management: A Cross Cultural Analysis of Higher Education (pp. 192–205). Palgrave.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bevan, V., & Gatrell, C. (2017). Knowing Her Place: Positioning Women in Science. Edward Elgar.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Blackmore, J. (2020). The carelessness of Entrepreneurial Universities in a World Risk Society: a Feminist Refelction on the Impact of Covid-19 in Australia. Higher Education Research and Development, 39(7), 1332–1336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackmore, J., & Sachs, J. (2007). Performing and Reforming Leaders: Gender, Educational Restructuring, and Organisational Change. State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brower, A., & James, A. (2020). Research Performance and Age Explain Less than Half of the Gender Pay Gap in New Zealand Universities. PLoS One, 15(1), 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burkinshaw, P. (2015). Higher Education, Leadership and Women Vice-Chancellors. Palgrave.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Burkinshaw, P., & White, K. (2017). Fixing the Women or Fixing Universities. Administrative Sciences, 7(30), 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caprile, M. (2012). Meta-analysis of Gender and Science Research, Synthesis Report. European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cardel, M., Dean, N., & Montoya-Williams, D. (2020). Preventing a Secondary Epidemic of Lost Early Career Scientists: Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Women with Children. Annals of the American Thoracic Society. Retrieved April 15, 2021, from https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202006-589IP

  • Fitzgerald, T., & Wilkinson, J. (2010). Travelling Towards a Mirage? Gender, Leadership and Higher Education. Post Pressed.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis, L., & Stulz, V. (2020). Barriers and Facilitators for Women Academics Seeking Promotion: Perspectives from the Inside. Australian Universities Review, 62(2). Retrieved November 10, 2020, from https://www.nteu.org.au/article/Barriers-and-facilitators-for-women-academics-seeking-promotion%3A-Perspectives-from-the-Inside-%28AUR-62-02%29-22293

  • Kramer, J. (2020). The Virus Moved Female Faculty to the Brink. Will Universities Help? The New York Times, 6 October. Retrieved October 10, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/science/covid-universities

  • Larkins, F. (2018). Australian Universities Gender Staffing Trends over the Decade 2008 to 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2020, from https://franklarkins.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/A31.F_Larkins_Australian-Universities-Staffing-Trends-over-the-Decade-2008-to-2017.pdf

  • Lynch, K., Grummell, B., & Devine, D. (2012). New Managerialism in Education. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mackay, F. (2019). Making Waves or Drowned Out? The Impact of Women in/on Political Science. Discover Society, 3 July.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackay, F., Kenny, M., & Chappell, L. (2010). New Institutionalism through a Gender Lens: Towards a Feminist Institutionalism. International Political Science Review, 31(5), 573–588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAllister, T., Kidman, J., Rowley, O., & Theodore, R. (2019). Why Isn’t My Professor Mäori? A Snapshot of the Academic Workforce in New Zealand Universities. MAI Journal, 8, 235–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morley, L. (2014). Lost Leaders: Women in the Global Academy. Higher Education Research and Development, 33, 114–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrish, L. (2019). Passive Vessels: The Epidemic of Poor Mental Health among Higher Education Staff. Report Prepared for the Higher Education Policy Institute. Retrieved May 21, 2020, from https://www.hepi.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/HEPI-Pressure-Vessels-Occasional-Paper-20.pdf

  • Naepi, S. (2019). Why Isn’t My Professor Pasifika? A Snapshot of the Academic Workforce in New Zealand Universities. MAI Journal, 8, 219–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neale, J. (2017). Making a Difference: National and Local Initiatives for Gender Equity in New Zealand. In K. White & P. O’Connor (Eds.), Gendered Success in Higher Education: Global Perspectives (pp. 175–194). Palgrave.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • New Zealand Human Rights Commission. (2012). Census Figures.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, P. (2017). Towards a New Gender Agenda and a Model for Change. In K. White & P. O’Connor (Eds.), Gendered Success in Higher Education: Global Perspectives (pp. 255–282). Palgrave.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson Gabster, B., van Daalen, K., Roopa Dhatt, R., & Barry, M. (2020). Challenges for the Female Academic during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lancet, 395(10242), 1968–1970. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31412-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pyke, J., & White, K. (2018). Gender Quotas and Targets would Speed up Progress on Gender Equality in Academia. The Conversation, 29 August. http://theconversation.com/gender-quotas-and-targets-would-speed-up-progress-on-gender-equity-in-academia-102103

  • Steinþórsdóttir, F. S., Heijstra, T. M., & Einarsdóttir, Þ. (2017). The Making of the ‘Excellent’ University: A Drawback for Gender Equality. Ephemera, Theory & Politics in Organization, 17(3), 557–582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinþórsdóttir, F. S., Smidt, T. B., Pétursdóttir, G. M., Einarsdóttir, Þ., & Le Feuvre, N. (2018). New Managerialism in the Academy: Gender Bias and Precarity. Gender, Work and Organisation, 26(2), 124–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strachan, G., Pertz, D., Whitehouse, G., Bailey, J., Broadbent, K., May, R., Troup, C., & Nesic, M. (2016). Women, Careers and Universities: Where to from Here. Griffith University, Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Täuber, S. (2019). Times Higher Education. 7 December. Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/female-academics-need-embrace-competition

  • Tessens, L. (2007). A Review of Current Practices in Women-only Staff Development Programmes at Australian Universities. Paper presented to HERDSA Conference.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tessens, L., White, K., & Webb, C. (2011). Senior Women at Higher Education Institutions: Perceived Development Needs and Support. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 33(6), 653–665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Universities Australia. (2017). Universities Australia Indigenous Strategy 2017–2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020, from https://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/policy-submissions/diversity-equity/universities-australias-indigenous-strategy-2017-2020/

  • Universities Australia. (2020). 2018 Selected Inter-Institutional Gender Equity Statistics. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2018-UA-Selected-Inter-Institutional-Gender-Equity-Statistics.pdf

  • Vaara, E., Sorse, V., & Palli, P. (2010). On the Force Potential of Strategy Texts: A Critical Discourse Analysis of a Strategic Plan and Its Power Effects in a City Organization. Organization, 17(6), 685–702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valian, V. (1998). Why So Slow? The Advancement of Women. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, L., Sin, I., Macinnis-Ng, C., Hannah, K., & McAllister, T. (2020). Where to from Here? Women Remain Absent, from Senior Academic Positions at Aotearoa New Zealand’s Universities. Educational Sciences, 10, 152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WGEA. (2020a). Data Fact-sheets. Retrieved October 4, 2020, from https://www.wgea.gov.au/data/fact-sheets/australias-gender-pay-gap-statistics-2020

  • WGEA. (2020b). Gendered Impact of COVID-19. Retrieved June 17, 2020, from https://www.wgea.gov.au/topics/gendered-impact-of-covid-19

  • White, K. (2011). Legislative Frameworks for EO. In B. Bagilhole & K. White (Eds.), Gender, Power and Management: A Cross Cultural Analysis of Higher Education (pp. 20–49). Palgrave Macmillan.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • White, K. (2014). Keeping Women in Science. Melbourne University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, K. (2017). Women Vice-Chancellors as Change Agents? An Australian Case Study. In K. White & P. O’Connor (Eds.), Gendered Success in Higher Education: Global Perspectives (pp. 71–90). Palgrave.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • White, K., & Burkinshaw, P. (2019). Editorial, Special Issue, Women and Leadership in Higher Education. Social Sciences, 8(7), 204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, J. (2008). Keeping Your Eye on the Prize: Gender Equality Programmes in Enterprise Universities. In S. Grenz, B. Kortendiek, M. Kriszio, & A. Lother (Eds.), Gender Equality Programmes in Higher Education: International Perspectives (pp. 101–108). VS Verlag fur Sozialwissenschaften.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wroblewski, A. (2017). Feminist University Management: Precondition or Indicator for Success: A Case Study from Austria. In K. White & P. O’Connor (Eds.), Gendered Success in Higher Education: Global Perspectives (pp. 49–70). Palgrave.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Yeom, M. (2019). Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions: Current Status and Key Issues in South Korea. In D. Neubauer & S. Kaur (Eds.), Gender and the Changing Face of Higher Education in Asia Pacific (pp. 199–212). Palgrave.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social and Cultural Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

    Brigitte Bönisch-Brednich

  2. School of Education, Federation University, Ballarat, VIC, Australia

    Kate White

Authors
  1. Brigitte Bönisch-Brednich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kate White
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brigitte Bönisch-Brednich .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

    Pat O'Connor

  2. School of Education, Federation University, Ballarat, VIC, Australia

    Kate White

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Bönisch-Brednich, B., White, K. (2021). Whatever Happened to Gender Equality in Australian and New Zealand Universities?. In: O'Connor, P., White, K. (eds) Gender, Power and Higher Education in a Globalised World. Palgrave Studies in Gender and Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69687-0_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69687-0_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-69686-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-69687-0

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation