Women, Higher Education of

Kristen A. Renn

In 2004, women constituted 57 percent of all undergraduate enrollments in U.S. higher education and 59 percent of graduate enrollments, whereas women make up 43 percent of tenured faculty and slightly more than 20 percent of college and university presidents. Female students and faculty are not proportionally distributed across academic fields, although the trend toward women entering fields traditionally dominated by men is increasing slightly. Female faculty and administrators are more likely to be in community colleges than in four-year institutions and less likely to be at research universities than in any other postsecondary education sector. Federal policies (e.g., Title IX and affirmative action) have been responsible for substantial increases in women's participation in higher education, and White women have benefited disproportionately compared to women of color. Women's status on campus influences and is influenced by campus climate, the pattern of perceptions, and attitudes related to gender. This entry looks ...

Users without subscription are not able to see the full content on this title. Please, subscribe or login to access all content on this website.