Gender Differences in Employment Outcomes for Academics in the Social Sciences

Donna K. Ginther, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

This study uses data from the 1973-1997 waves of the Survey of Doctorate Recipients to evaluate gender differences in employment outcomes for academic social scientists. Differences in employment outcomes by gender are evaluated using three methods: the Oaxaca decomposition is used to examine salary differentials and binary choice models and duration analysis are used to estimate the probability of promotion to tenure. Over time, gender salary differences can largely be explained by academic rank. Probit and duration model estimates indicate gender differences in the probability of promotion, making it less likely for women to be promoted to tenure. On the basis of this evidence, this paper concludes that gender discrimination for academics in the social sciences tends to operate through differences in promotion, which in turn affects wages.