Women in German Academia

1. Women in German Academia • Career paths of academic staff • Participation of women (and men) in German academia – trends and numbers • Measures taken and actions to carry out • European networking Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

2. Standard Career Pattern (Simplified) Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

3. Development of male and female student numbers 1913 - 2004 Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

4. Expansion of Academia and Participation of Women in 1965 – 1998 in Absolute Figures Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

5. Women‘s Share Across Different Academic Levels 1992 - 2004 Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

6. Women‘s Share in New Professorships, 1997-2004 Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

7. Women Lost Along the Way (2005)“leaky pipeline” Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

8. Retrospective Analysis All Subjects Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

9. RetrospectiveAnalysis Linguistics and Cultural Studies Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

10. (Historical) Barriers Impeding the Integration of Women Into Academia • Profound division of labour • Historically, very high prestige and exclusiveness of academic profession, especially professorships • Very late entry of women into higher education and academic professions • Informal selection and co-opting mechanisms • A long and risky career ladder • Women are more likely to rely on non – regular financial support while working on their doctorates and habilitations • Women are more likely to occupy inferior sectors of the academic labour market • The traditional hierarchical system of university organisation Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

11. Trends in Favour of Women’s Access to Academia • A growing female participation in the labour force in general • Feminist pressure • Affirmative actions and gender mainstreaming • A changing academic environment (more female mentors and networks) • Stagnating interest of men in university studies and careers in a shrinking public sector • Sinking attractiveness of science, decreasing distinctiveness of academic profession Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

12. What is to be done • Offer better solutions to combine work and family • Develop possibilities for double careers • PhD Thesis and examinations to be supervised by committees • Transparency: Obligation to formalize employment procedures - external experts must be involved • Women’s share as a performance indicator for universities • Positive discrimination? Minimum quotas for women in academic staff • What about the trend towards headhunting? Would headhunting of women be a solution? • Last but not least: Make science and working conditions more attractive for women Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

13. What is needed on a European Level • Facilitate mobility of women: develop guest- and mentoring programs • Join existing European networks of women in science • Organize European recruiting systems in favour of female scientists Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007

14. And now wish us a good discussion Women in the European Higher Education Area Workshop GEW 6. – 7. Dec. 2007