[media-credit name=’Elisabeth Gaffaney’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Louise F. Root-Robbins, co-director of the University of Wisconsin System’s Sloan Project for Academic Career Advancement, spoke to a crowd of UW students and faculty about gender equity in higher education Thursday night.
Root-Robbins spoke against recent statements made by Harvard University President Lawrence Summers, who said women are not as good at math and science as men. He stated women cannot handle the 80-hour workweek these jobs entail, they are not as capable of learning the subjects, and least importantly, they are steered away from such job areas, according to Root-Robbins.
Root-Robbins, however, said the fact women are steered into other areas is the most important issue, and that the other two comments he made are blatantly wrong.
Root-Robbins added there has been an increase in all subjects of higher education among women over the past 30 years, including math and science. However, less than 20 percent of faculty members in four-year universities are women and this problem needs to be addressed and fixed, she added.
Root-Robbins stressed flexibility is an issue with women, because with children women are 29 percent less likely to go into tenure track positions than those without. But single women without kids still do not fare as well as men, she added.
Root-Robbins also emphasized the need for the availability of part-time positions, re-entrance options and more control over time in order for women to achieve high success in tenure track positions.
Root-Robbins said the difference among men and women in higher education jobs is resource and space distribution, salary, teaching assistance, time in rank and participation in decision-making.
But faculty losses due to university system budget cuts affects women too, and almost 700 tenure positions have been eliminated in the past 10 years, according to Root-Robbins.
“People in [tenure track] position jobs are very insecure and getting even less secure with their jobs due to low pay, low status and low security in their jobs,” Root-Robbins said. “People seeking academic careers are tired of being permanently temporary.”
Root-Robbins stressed leadership cooperation is key to overcoming gender inequity and the top leaders in the system, who are mostly men, need to be understanding of goals set to aid the success of women’s statuses.
“Anything we can do to improve the status of women will improve the status of everyone,” Root-Robbins said.
UW sophomore Kristina Mueller said she found the topic inspiring for women.
“I think this topic brings together such a phenomenal group of women, and just hearing their perspective on this issue is amazing and helpful,” Muller said. “[I] plan to be active in women’s rights in the future.”
Root-Robbins stated the Sloan Project, a university system project, suggests the best way to start fighting this battle is by learning from models, making strategies for change that are connected to reality in the work force, and getting leadership personnel involved. Root-Robbins said more opportunities for dialogue need to be created, and people need to be informed.
Root-Robbins was the third speaker in a series of presentations sponsored by Wisconsin Women Equals Prosperity, a statewide initiative directed by Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton.