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Slaying the Seven‐Headed Dragon: The Quest for Gender Change in Academia
Author(s) -
van den Brink Marieke,
Benschop Yvonne
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
gender, work and organization
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.159
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1468-0432
pISSN - 0968-6673
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-0432.2011.00566.x
Subject(s) - multitude , pace , inequality , gender inequality , gender equality , social inequality , gender studies , sociology , political science , geography , law , mathematical analysis , mathematics , geodesy
In this article we propose a multi‐level distinction between gender inequality practices and gender equality practices to come to better understanding of the slow pace of gender change in academia. Gender inequality resembles an unbeatable seven‐headed dragon that has a multitude of faces in different social contexts. Based on an empirical study on the recruitment and selection of full professors in three academic fields in The Netherlands we discuss practices that should bring about gender equality and show how these interact with gender inequality practices. We argue that the multitude of gender inequality practices are ineffectively countered by gender equality practices because the latter lack teeth, especially in traditional masculine academic environments.