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The Shortage of Sheilas: Why so Few Women Economists at Macquarie?

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Author Info
Melanie Beresford () (Department of Economics, Macquarie University)
Andrea Chareunsy () (Department of Economics, Macquarie University)

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Abstract

Only 19 per cent of academic staff in the Economics Department at Macquarie University are women, a proportion that has not improved over the last decade. We investigate the reasons for this gender imbalance, focusing particularly on why it is that few qualified women have applied for positions. Declining numbers of economics graduates is a national phenomenon, but data from Macquarie show that this is a trend that particularly affects women. We found, from our surveys of staff and students in the Department, that the relative shortage of women is primarily related to attitudes and decisions taken either prior to the commencement of university studies or due to external influences such as pressure of family commitments. Interestingly, however, a higher proportion of female than male third-year students showed an interest in pursuing an academic career. While attitudes of staff were generally found to be gender neutral, we found some evidence that staff members could do more to encourage these students.

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File URL: http://www.econ.mq.edu.au/research/2006/Ber_Char_shortage_sheilas_06.pdf
File Format: application/pdf
File Function: First Version, 2006
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Macquarie University, Department of Economics in its series Research Papers with number 0601.

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Length: 35 pages.
Date of creation: May 2006
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:mac:wpaper:0601

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Postal: Sydney NSW 2109
Web page: http://www.econ.mq.edu.au/
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Related research
Keywords: Gender equity women economists undergraduate and postgraduate economics economics teaching Macquarie University

Find related papers by JEL classification:
A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
A2 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economics Education and Teaching of Economics
I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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  1. John M. McDowell & Larry D. Singell & Jr & James P. Ziliak, 2001. "Gender and promotion in the economics profession," Industrial and Labor Relations Review, ILR Review, ILR School, Cornell University, vol. 54(2), pages 224-244, January.
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