The Historical Role of Women in Higher Education

Abstract

Historically, females, as compared to males, have represented a lower percentage of college professors and administrators in the United States. The tendency for males to outnumber females in the professoriate and college administration has existed since United States higher education institutions formed in the early 1800s and still persists today. Fluctuations in the women’s participation rate have been influenced by the economy’s history and the society’s expectations of females. Observation of the employment trends for females offers an interesting look at the evolving role of women in the United States workforce.