Gender inequality in academia remains a persistent and multifaceted issue, despite the increasing participation of women in higher education and the labour market. While women now represent approximately half of PhD graduates in most EU countries, their progression through academic ranks remains disproportionately slow compared to their male counterparts. The “leaky pipeline” phenomenon, whereby women’s representation declines at higher academic levels, is deeply rooted in systemic barriers, including gender biases, work-family conflicts, and structural constraints within academic institutions. The interplay between career progression and fertility decisions plays a crucial role in shaping gender disparities; however, this relationship remains underexplored in empirical research. This dissertation adopts a life-course approach to examine how academic careers and fertility trajectories interact over time, contributing to the persistence of gender inequalities. It provides a dual empirical contribution by combining secondary data on Italian PhD holders with unique primary data collected through an original web survey of Italian academics. The secondary data allow for an analysis of gender disparities in early career transitions, while the primary dataset offers novel insights into the reciprocal influence of career progression and fertility decisions. The findings reveal that women face significant barriers at two critical stages of the academic career. First, they are less likely than men to enter academia after completing a PhD. Second, they take longer to attain a tenured position. These gender gaps persist even after controlling for parenthood, indicating that structural and institutional barriers, rather than individual choices alone, contribute to women’s slower career advancement. Beyond disparities in career progression, the dissertation highlights a “gender fertility gap” in academia. While both male and female academics tend to postpone childbearing until achieving job stability, women face greater reproductive risks due to the prolonged precariousness of early academic careers. The findings indicate that, for women, delaying childbirth to secure career stability can lead to reduced completed fertility or involuntary childlessness, exacerbating gender inequalities beyond professional outcomes. Furthermore, the research challenges the assumption that only motherhood affects career progression, revealing that fatherhood also has heterogeneous effects. Early-career fathers experience a paternity penalty, whereas men in tenured positions often benefit from a paternity bonus, reinforcing traditional gender roles in academic careers. By integrating quantitative methodologies, this dissertation provides robust empirical evidence on the intertwined dynamics of academic careers and fertility. The findings contribute to the broader discussion on gender equality in academia, highlighting the need for a re-evaluation of institutional structures that shape career trajectories and family planning within the academic profession.
Gender inequality in Italian academia: a life-course perspective on careers and fertility
Gorodetskaya Olga
2024-01-01
Abstract
Gender inequality in academia remains a persistent and multifaceted issue, despite the increasing participation of women in higher education and the labour market. While women now represent approximately half of PhD graduates in most EU countries, their progression through academic ranks remains disproportionately slow compared to their male counterparts. The “leaky pipeline” phenomenon, whereby women’s representation declines at higher academic levels, is deeply rooted in systemic barriers, including gender biases, work-family conflicts, and structural constraints within academic institutions. The interplay between career progression and fertility decisions plays a crucial role in shaping gender disparities; however, this relationship remains underexplored in empirical research. This dissertation adopts a life-course approach to examine how academic careers and fertility trajectories interact over time, contributing to the persistence of gender inequalities. It provides a dual empirical contribution by combining secondary data on Italian PhD holders with unique primary data collected through an original web survey of Italian academics. The secondary data allow for an analysis of gender disparities in early career transitions, while the primary dataset offers novel insights into the reciprocal influence of career progression and fertility decisions. The findings reveal that women face significant barriers at two critical stages of the academic career. First, they are less likely than men to enter academia after completing a PhD. Second, they take longer to attain a tenured position. These gender gaps persist even after controlling for parenthood, indicating that structural and institutional barriers, rather than individual choices alone, contribute to women’s slower career advancement. Beyond disparities in career progression, the dissertation highlights a “gender fertility gap” in academia. While both male and female academics tend to postpone childbearing until achieving job stability, women face greater reproductive risks due to the prolonged precariousness of early academic careers. The findings indicate that, for women, delaying childbirth to secure career stability can lead to reduced completed fertility or involuntary childlessness, exacerbating gender inequalities beyond professional outcomes. Furthermore, the research challenges the assumption that only motherhood affects career progression, revealing that fatherhood also has heterogeneous effects. Early-career fathers experience a paternity penalty, whereas men in tenured positions often benefit from a paternity bonus, reinforcing traditional gender roles in academic careers. By integrating quantitative methodologies, this dissertation provides robust empirical evidence on the intertwined dynamics of academic careers and fertility. The findings contribute to the broader discussion on gender equality in academia, highlighting the need for a re-evaluation of institutional structures that shape career trajectories and family planning within the academic profession.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
