136. In Their Own words: a Qualitative Analysis of Factors Contributing to Gender Bias in Academic Advancement in Infectious Disease

Abstract

BackgroundLarge and persistent inequities in academic advancement exist between men and women faculty in academic Infectious Diseases (ID). To identify and characterize beliefs about why these inequities persist in ID, we asked ID faculty members to share their thoughts and experiences with the advancement process.Characteristics of Focus Group Participants Summary of Main Emergent Themes from Focus Group Analysis MethodsWe conducted four 60-minute focus groups with ID faculty members during IDWeek 2019. We enrolled women that were diverse geographically and in academic rank (i.e., Instructor/Assistant, Associate, Full Professor). We assigned women to focus groups by rank to minimize social desirability bias across rank. Our fourth focus group included only men who were Full Professors, to capture additional perspectives about barriers to advancement and solutions. (Table 1) We analyzed focus group discussion transcripts using content analysis.ResultsWe identified nine main themes regarding inequities in academic advancement of women in ID. (Table 2) In all 4 focus groups, gender bias as a barrier to academic advancement was a major theme. Women Full Professors emphasized explicit gender bias such as sexual harassment and “predatory mentoring,” whereas women Instructors/Assistant Professors more frequently cited barriers related to implicit bias, such as obscure maternity leave policies and divisional meetings scheduled during childcare hours. Women Associate Professors cited implicit and explicit gender bias, while men Full Professors focused primarily on implicit bias. Women Instructors/Assistant Professors experienced the greatest difficulty in balancing demands of family with career, though this was a prominent theme in all groups. The perception that women less often utilize negotiation to advance themselves was a dominant theme for women Associate Professors, though all groups raised examples of this theme.ConclusionGender bias, both implicit and explicit, is an important and ongoing barrier to equitable academic advancement of women in ID. Difficulty balancing demands of family with career and gender differences in professional negotiation are also perceived barriers that can be targeted by innovative programs and interventions to address gender disparities in academic advancement.Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures