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Leak or link? the overrepresentation of women in non-tenure-track academic positions in STEM

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Listed:
  • Stephanie Rennane
  • Hannah Acheson-Field
  • Kathryn A Edwards
  • Grace Gahlon
  • Melanie A Zaber

Abstract

This paper examines gender variation in departures from the tenure-track science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) academic career pathway to non-tenure-track academic careers. We integrate multiple data sources including the Survey of Earned Doctorates and the Survey of Doctorate Recipients to examine longitudinal career outcomes of STEM doctorate women. We consider three types of careers after receipt of a PhD: academic, academic non-tenure-track, and non-academic positions. We find that STEM women are more likely to hold academic non-tenure-track positions, which are associated with lower job satisfaction and lower salaries among men and women. Explanations including differences in field of study, preparation in graduate school, and family structure only explain 35 percent of the gender gap in non-tenure-track academic positions.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephanie Rennane & Hannah Acheson-Field & Kathryn A Edwards & Grace Gahlon & Melanie A Zaber, 2022. "Leak or link? the overrepresentation of women in non-tenure-track academic positions in STEM," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(6), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0267561
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267561
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Heather Antecol & Kelly Bedard & Jenna Stearns, 2018. "Equal but Inequitable: Who Benefits from Gender-Neutral Tenure Clock Stopping Policies?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(9), pages 2420-2441, September.
    4. Jordi Duch & Xiao Han T Zeng & Marta Sales-Pardo & Filippo Radicchi & Shayna Otis & Teresa K Woodruff & Luís A Nunes Amaral, 2012. "The Possible Role of Resource Requirements and Academic Career-Choice Risk on Gender Differences in Publication Rate and Impact," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(12), pages 1-11, December.
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