Climbing the ladder : an update on the status of doctoral women scientists and engineers

This is the fourth report of the Committee on the Education and Employment of Women in Science and Engineering and its second publication to address specifically the status of women scientists and engineers in academic institutions. The present report updates an earlier study, Climbing the Academic Ladder: Doctoral Women Scientists in Academe, and examines any changes in the status of women faculty between 1977 and 1981. Drawing on more limited data , it also considers their situation in industry. This report updates a 1977 study (which explored the status of women in faculty, postdoctoral, and advisory posts) and examines any changes in the status of women faculty between 1977 and 1981. Drawing on more limited data, it also examines their situation in industry. Data for the report were obtained primarily from the 1981 Survey of Doctorate Recipients and 1980 Survey of Earned Doctorates conducted by the National Research Council (NRC). The report is organized into five chapters, beginning with an examination of the number of women in the science/engineering pipeline and recent trends in the proportion of college women planning careers as scientists. In chapter 2, the characteristics of new doctorate recipients are described. Chapter 3 presents data on patterns of postdoctoral appointments for recent Ph. D.s. The comparative status of men and women faculty, including their rank, tenure, and salary profiles, is discussed in chapter 4. Chapter 5 briefly examines the employment patterns of doctoral women in industry and whether the picture has changed since 1977. Copies of the questionnaire used in the two NRC surveys, a summary of the evidence related to the status of women scientists, and recommendations for improving their situation are included. (JN) CONTENTS INTRODUCTION SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FACTORS AFFECTING THE SUPPLY OF DOCTORAL WOMEN SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS THE SUPPLY OF WOMEN DOCTORATES POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING WOMEN SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS IN ACADEME DOCTORAL WOMEN IN INDUSTRY CONCLUSIONS APPENDICES REFERENCES Committee On The Education And Employment Of Women In Science And Engineering, Office Of Scientific And Engineering Personnel, National Research Council. Includes Bibliography.