New Survey Finds Vast Job Dissatisfaction Among Women in the Academic World

A new poll conducted by the Gallup organization finds that 28 percent of women in the academic world report they believe they were passed over for a promotion or opportunity at work because of their gender. This is approximately double the national average of 15 percent among working women in general. The poll also found that 11 percent of men believe they were passed over for promotion due to their gender.

The poll, conducted in October 2021, involved 10,594 faculty and staff members nationally, currently teaching at Title IV degree-granting, two- and four-year colleges and universities.

Hispanic and Asian women were the most likely to believe they had been unfairly passed over for promotion. Black women were the least likely to feel they were discriminated against due to their gender.

The poll found that only 23 percent of women faculty and staff strongly agreed with the statement: “I have the same opportunities for advancement as other employees at my institution with similar experience and performance levels.” Nearly a third of men faculty and staff strongly agreed with the same statement.

Only 12 percent of all female faculty and staff strongly agreed with the statement: “I am paid fairly for the work I do.” A quarter of all women faculty and staff strongly disagreed with the statement.

The authors of the Gallup report conclude that “the 28 percent of women working in higher education who feel they have been passed over because of their gender is a call to action for higher ed institutions that have been silent on pay and advancement equity. It is more important than ever before that these institutions commit to creating an equitable and inclusive workplace. There are many factors pushing women from the workforce – the promise of an inclusive workplace is an important way to pull them back toward it.”