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Gender Inequality, Stress Exposure, and Well-Being among Academic Faculty

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  • Marta Elliott
  • Sarah J. Blithe

Abstract

Gender inequalities in salary, rank and access to leadership positions characterize institutions of higher education and disadvantage women faculty. Differential exposure to noxious working conditions and restricted access to social resources may underlie these inequalities by detracting from women faculty’s well-being, thereby perpetuating the status quo. This study applies stress process theory to analyze this inequitable state of affairs, treating gender as a social status in higher education that predicts differential exposure to stressors and access to resources. Stressors and resources, in turn, predict faculty well-being. Stressors include micro-aggressions and work-life conflict, and resources include collegiality with peers and support from administrators. Survey data were collected from academic faculty at a mid-sized Western university in the U.S. Results indicate that women faculty experience micro-aggressions and work-life conflict more often than men, and report less supportive relationships with their deans. Moreover, micro-aggressions and work-life conflict are positively associated with psychological distress and job dissatisfaction, while dean support has the opposite associations. Open-ended responses supplement the quantitative findings with vivid examples of how these phenomena play out in individual faculty members’ lives. Implications for how institutions of higher education might introduce change to address these findings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Elliott & Sarah J. Blithe, 2021. "Gender Inequality, Stress Exposure, and Well-Being among Academic Faculty," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 10(2), pages 240-240, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:jfr:ijhe11:v:10:y:2021:i:2:p:240
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Boring, Anne, 2017. "Gender biases in student evaluations of teaching," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 27-41.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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