Women in higher education: Issues and challenges

Abstract

Synopsis This Special Issue of Women's Studies International Forum represents two things: first, recognition of the hard work that women in higher education do and, second, the value of collaborative working for women in higher education. Our motivation and opportunity for editing this collection comes generally from our individual and joint interest in issues concerning women and higher education and specifically from our 3-year experience as Co-Chairs of WHEN (Women in Higher Education Network, UK) 2000–2003 and from our continued involvement with WHEN. WHEN has been in existence since the late 1980s and several books currently available are the result of WHEN endeavours. These being: Davies, Lubelska, and Quinn (1994) [Davies, Sue, Lubelska, Cathy, & Quinn, Josie. (Eds.) (1994). Changing the subject: Women in higher education. London: Taylor and Francis], Morley and Walsh (1995) [Morley, Louise & Walsh, Val. (1995). Feminist academics: Creative agents for change. London: Taylor and Francis], Morley and Walsh (1996) [Morley, Louise & Walsh, Val. (1996). Breaking boundaries: Women in higher education. London: Taylor and Francis], and Malina and Maslin-Prothero (1998) [Malina, Danusia & Maslin-Prothero, Sian. (1998). Surviving the academy: Feminist perspective. London: Falmer]. In all of these collections, we are reminded of the tensions for women within the academy. Despite the historical tradition of academia as a male space, there are now more women in higher education than ever before. But it is important not to view this widening of female participation in higher education through ‘rose tinted glasses’. For example, as we write this editorial, the following was reported in The Times Higher Education Supplement (UK): Stephen Court, senior research officer at the AUT and author of The Unequal Academy, said: ‘The report reveals very different experiences of women and men working in higher education. Women may be flooding into universities but they do not appear to have the same opportunities as their male colleagues. This can be very demoralising’… ‘The more senior the grade, the lower proportion of female academics in the grade’… Despite a surge in promotions for women (Times Higher, June 25), they are still outnumbered by men in top jobs. They make up 13 percent of professors in old universities, with success highly dependent on subject. …as reported last month, for every £1 earned by men, women earn on average 85p. The biggest gaps are at medical schools and universities with a high proportion of research-only staff. ( Saunders, 2004 , p. 60). This special edition explores these and other tensions with reference to higher education in various countries.