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Gender disparities in colloquium speakers at top universities

Author

Listed:
  • Christine L. Nittrouer

    (Department of Psychology, Rice University, Houston, TX 77251)

  • Michelle R. Hebl

    (Department of Psychology, Rice University, Houston, TX 77251)

  • Leslie Ashburn-Nardo

    (Department of Psychology, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202)

  • Rachel C. E. Trump-Steele

    (Department of Psychology, Rice University, Houston, TX 77251)

  • David M. Lane

    (Department of Psychology, Rice University, Houston, TX 77251; Department of Statistics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77251)

  • Virginia Valian

    (Department of Psychology, Hunter College, New York, NY 10065)

Abstract

Colloquium talks at prestigious universities both create and reflect academic researchers’ reputations. Gender disparities in colloquium talks can arise through a variety of mechanisms. The current study examines gender differences in colloquium speakers at 50 prestigious US colleges and universities in 2013–2014. Using archival data, we analyzed 3,652 talks in six academic disciplines. Men were more likely than women to be colloquium speakers even after controlling for the gender and rank of the available speakers. Eliminating alternative explanations (e.g., women declining invitations more often than men), our follow-up data revealed that female and male faculty at top universities reported no differences in the extent to which they ( i ) valued and ( ii ) turned down speaking engagements. Additional data revealed that the presence of women as colloquium chairs (and potentially on colloquium committees) increased the likelihood of women appearing as colloquium speakers. Our data suggest that those who invite and schedule speakers serve as gender gatekeepers with the power to create or reduce gender differences in academic reputations.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine L. Nittrouer & Michelle R. Hebl & Leslie Ashburn-Nardo & Rachel C. E. Trump-Steele & David M. Lane & Virginia Valian, 2018. "Gender disparities in colloquium speakers at top universities," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 115(1), pages 104-108, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:115:y:2018:p:104-108
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Julie Fortin & Bjarne Bartlett & Michael Kantar & Michelle Tseng & Zia Mehrabi, 2021. "Digital technology helps remove gender bias in academia," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(5), pages 4073-4081, May.
    2. Luke Holman & Claire Morandin, 2019. "Researchers collaborate with same-gendered colleagues more often than expected across the life sciences," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Ho Fai Chan & Benno Torgler, 2020. "Gender differences in performance of top cited scientists by field and country," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(3), pages 2421-2447, December.
    4. Si, Kao & Li, Yiwei & Ma, Chao & Guo, Feng, 2023. "Affiliation bias in peer review and the gender gap," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(7).
    5. Hoffmann, Robert & Coate, Bronwyn, 2022. "Fame, What’s your name? quasi and statistical gender discrimination in an art valuation experimentc," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 184-197.

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