SECTION 2: SELECTED WORKSHOP PAPERS 99
THE ECONOMICS OF GENDER DIFFERENCES IN
EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES IN ACADEMIA*
Donna K. Ginther
Department of Economics
University of Kansas
Abstract
This paper summarizes research that examines the relationship be-
tween hiring, promotion, and salary for tenure track science and social
science faculty using data from the Survey of Doctorate Recipients
(SDR). Gender differences in hiring and promotion can be explained by
observable characteristics. However, gender differences in salaries per-
sist at the full professor rank. In particular, women in science and social
science are less likely to have tenure track jobs within five years of the
doctorate when compared with men. However, when controls for mari-
tal status and children are included in the analysis, the research finds
that unmarried women are significantly more likely to have tenure track
jobs than unmarried men. Marriage provides a significant advantage
for men relative to women. Presence of children, especially young chil-
dren, significantly disadvantages women while having no impact on men
in obtaining tenure track jobs. The research also finds no significant
gender differences in the probability of obtaining tenure in life science,
physical science, and engineering. These results also hold for promo-
tion to full professor. However, significant gender promotion differences
are evident in the social sciences, in particular, economics. Finally, the
research finds large gender differences in salaries are partially ex-
plained by academic rank. However, gender salary differences for full
professors, on the order of 13% in the sciences, are not fully explained
by observable characteristics.
In his examination of the salaries and appointments of men and women in
academia, the Director of Research at the American Association of University
Professors (AAUP) observes: “Substantial disparities in salary, rank, and tenure
*Paper presented at the National Academies Convocation on Maximizing the Success of Women in
Science and Engineering: Biological, Social, and Organizational Components of Success, held De-
cember 9, 2005, in Washington, DC. I thank the National Science Foundation for granting a site
license to use the data and Kelly Kang of the NSF for providing technical documentation. Ronnie
Mukherjee provided research assistance. The use of NSF data does not imply NSF endorsement of the
research, research methods, or conclusions contained in this report. Financial support was provided
from NSF grant SES-0353703. Any errors are my own responsibility.
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Biological, Social, and Organizational Components of Success for Women in Academic Science and Engineering: Works
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11766.html