Equality for women in higher
education: now, sometime,
never?
Paul Walton
University of York
Some facts
Some facts
Percentage female staff in all subjects
People Science and Policy report for RSC, Feb 2009
Some facts
Percentage female staff by grade
Left bar for each grade: 2001/02, right bar: 2006/07
People Science and Policy report for RSC, Feb 2009
Percentage female staff by grade
Left bar for each grade: 2001/02, right bar: 2006/07
People Science and Policy report for RSC, Feb 2009
Some facts
RSC Remuneration Survey 2006
Policy
The outcomes
Culture and gender balance in decision
making
•
•
•
•
Membership of key committees
Open management
Effective dissemination
‘Inclusiveness’ committee
The outcomes
Work-life balance
• Flexible working practices
- annualised hours, part-time
• Scheduling of meetings in core hours
• Inclusive departmental social activities
Other policies
• Resource allocation
• Strong support through maternity leave
• Part time working guarantee
Ceci and Williams, PNAS, February 2011, pg 3157
Prejudice
Culture
Culture
Why So Slow? Virginia Valian. MIT Press, 1999.
Athena awards at York
“Sometimes you just have to wait
for the old farts to leave and take
their prejudices with them.”