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Big Girls Don’t Cry: An Assessment of Research Units’ Leadership and Gender Distribution in Higher Education Institutions

Author

Listed:
  • Ricardo Morais

    (LabCom—Communication and Arts, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal)

  • Clara E. Fernandes

    (LASALLE College of the Arts, 1 McNally Street, Singapore 187940, Singapore
    UNIDCOM-IADE, Av. Dom Carlos I 4, 1200-649 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Valeriano Piñeiro-Naval

    (Observatorio de los Contenidos Audiovisuales, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain)

Abstract

Academia is often pointed out as a challenging environment to evolve in, especially for women. Whilst women perform in multidisciplinary settings, studies point out still-existing gender gaps in academia, especially in positions of power. This study looks at decision-making positions in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), specifically in Portuguese academic research. Furthermore, we seek to understand if research roles are distributed equally gender-wise among cohorts in research units, as well as if deans’ genders are a factor of influence in such role attributions. We will look at the research roles in academia, particularly research units fostered by HEIs, to observe gender distribution based on total cohorts. Using univariate and bivariate tests, our research aims to assess gender distribution in leading research roles in public and private institutions. We take the specific case of Portugal; therefore, we cannot extrapolate the results to other countries. However, outcomes point out resisting differences in fields of research and coordination and role distribution among R&D units, as well as in fundamental relations between power positions in academia and research.

Suggested Citation

  • Ricardo Morais & Clara E. Fernandes & Valeriano Piñeiro-Naval, 2022. "Big Girls Don’t Cry: An Assessment of Research Units’ Leadership and Gender Distribution in Higher Education Institutions," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:11:y:2022:i:8:p:345-:d:880465
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sara Diogo & Teresa Carvalho & Zélia Breda, 2021. "Nomination vs. election: do they influence women’s access to institutional decision-making bodies?," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 25(3), pages 879-898, September.
    2. Pat O’Connor & Gemma Irvine, 2020. "Multi-Level State Interventions and Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions: The Irish Case," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-21, December.
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