The Presence and Participation of Women in Academic Science and Engineering: 1973–1995

Abstract

The legal revolution highlighted by the quote from historian Margaret Rossiter grew out of the resurgence of the women’s movement in the late 1960s and dramatic changes in our society’s view of the role of women at home and in the workplace. The effects of these changes are reflected in the rapid and remarkable inereases in the presenee and participation of women in academic science and engineering since the early 1970s, changes that are documented in this paper. Our approach is to follow the pipeline, from receipt of degree, to entry into the labor force, to recruitment into the academic sector, and then through the academic ranks. The full participation of women in the academic sector is eritieal because it is within academia that future generations of scientists and engineers are trained. Moreover, we give special attention to scientists and engineers working in Research I universities and medical schools. Not only do these locations provide the majority of doetoral and postdoctoral training, but they are also the most conducive organizational contexts for a prestigious research career. For women to have an equal standing with men in science and engineering, it is essential that they gain parity within the most prestigious academic locations (see the Introduction to the current volume for further discussion).