The Status of Women in Higher Education

Abstract

Despite raised consciousnesses, affirmative-action guidelines, day-care centers, and women's studies programs, the status of women in higher education promises to decline. Even were positions within institutional hierarchies allocated sex blind or preferentially to women, the impact of demographic changes and economic constraints would limit opportunities available to them. With a declining population and a restrictive economy, fewer positions will exist in academe. Consequently, even if women fill a larger proportion of academic positions than they do now, the number so employed is unlikely to be significantly increased. As it is, such societal forces threaten to undermine recent gains made by women at lower levels of academe as students and junior faculty. Men and women in higher education will have to be vigilant if institutional gains for women are to be consolidated and not eroded.