Female Academics in a Knowledge Production Society

Abstract

In the latter half of the twentieth century, the ‘Professional Society’ was, and continues to be, replaced by a ‘Knowledge Society’. One of the characteristics of the ‘Professional Society’ was its masculine culture and hierarchies. This paper examines the effect that the shift from a ‘Professional Society’ to a ‘Knowledge Society’ has had on the careers of female academics. It considers the career paths of vice–chancellors and goes on to examine the effects of geographical mobility on promotions. In addition, the significance of high proportions of professors in highly–rated research departments, and the gender implications of that, is examined. In the concluding section it is argued that, while universities continue to support the hierarchies of the ‘Professional Society’, it is to the detriment both of women and of knowledge production.