The Future of Women in Aviation: Trends in Participation in Postsecondary Aviation Education

Abstract

THE FUTURE OF WOMEN IN AVU TION: TRENDS IN PARTICIPA TION IN POSTSECONDARY A VU TION EDUCA TION David C. Ison Abstract The purpose of this research was to evaluate the trends in participation by women in postsecondary aviation programs in the United States both at the student and faculty levels. Data concerning the number of students who completed baccalaureate degrees in aviation was collected via the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). It was found that 560 (10.5%) students among the 5,355 total that completed a degree in an aviation related field in 2007 were female. Also, of 434 full-time aviation faculty members employed at 74 different aviation programs meeting the criteria of this study, 35 (8.1%) were found to be female. 84 faculty were identified in an academic leadership positions and of these individuals, 10 (1 1.9%) were women. These participation rates were found to be higher than those found among the aircraft pilot population and in the aviation industry in general. The level of involvement of women in aviation higher education in recent years has shown no significant improvement among students, however, there has been a small increase among faculty in comparison to the findings of four out of five previous studies. Over the past three decades, the enrollments of women in postsecondary education have grown significantly. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the percentage of undergraduate students who are women grew fiom 42.3 in 1970 to 56.1 in 2000 (U.S. Department of Education, 2004). By 2005 this number had risen further to 57.4% (National Center for Education Statistics, 2008). These figures, however, are averages across all majors and fields of study. Historically, though, there have been certain subjects in which women have lagged such as in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields (Turney, 2004; Babco, 2003). In particular, women have consistently been underrepresented throughout the aviation industry (Hedge, 2007). The importance ofdiversity in higher education has been highlighted by a variety of research (Fassinger, 2008; Umbach, 2006; Lockwood, 2005; Turney, et al, 2002; Willdorf, 2000; Brinson and Kottler, 1993; Luedtke, 1993). Thus an assortment of programs and initiatives has been undertaken over the years to improve women and minority representation in general and