By Prof Marcia Devlin
Summary:
In Australian universities, men hold around 65 percent of professorial appointments, 75 percent of vice-chancellor positions and 75 percent of chancellor positions (Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE), 2020). Women dominate at the lower levels of academia, with 17% more females at levels A and B (lecturer and senior lecturer) than males (DESE, 2020). These percentages are changing, but very slowly, and in a pandemic that the World Economic Forum (2020) indicates has extended the timeline for gender parity from 100 to 135 years. These inequalities are unacceptable in Australia – a developed nation with high levels of education and awareness about the benefits of gender equality. There is overwhelming agreement that ‘something’ should be done. Given the financial and political challenges the higher education sector currently faces, some believe it is time for women to take matters into their own hands.
The objectives of this workshop are that participants:
• understand the negative impacts of gendered expectations, unconscious bias, invisibility to decision-makers, and other forms of sexism on female career trajectories;
• understand their power to make change in their context;
• engage in discussion about and consider some practical steps they can each take to improve equity; and
• leave the session armed with a commitment to contribute to positive change.
When: 1 October 2021 from10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Online
