Intersectional Analyses

Given that not all women’s experiences working in the HE sector are the same, this chapter explores differences between women in relation to age, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, and disability. Within each of these demographic categories, we checked for differences between academic and professional services women, and we also statistically controlled for other potentially relevant factors, such as full-time vs. part-time working where appropriate. We find that experiences and perceptions vary systematically in certain respects for women of different ages and ethnic identities and for women with and without a self-reported disability or health condition. Sexual orientation yielded few differences. The stand-out findings include a decline in career satisfaction with age, especially for academic women, with both younger and older women tending to feel overlooked for leadership opportunities; potentially substantial disadvantages for women with a self-reported disability or health impairment; and the need to consider ‘White other’ women (i.e. non-British and non-Irish), as well as those with an ethnic minority background, because their experiences are similar in some respects.