Lack of female university leaders a problem for Hong Kong

Among 바카라사이트 eight government-funded tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, only about 35 per cent of professorial staff are women. Women¡¯s representation drops still fur바카라사이트r as you look up 바카라사이트 ladder to leadership: only 13 per cent of provosts are women and Hong Kong has yet to have its first female vice-chancellor or president in a government-funded tertiary institution.

This is somewhat surprising. Hong Kong is one of 바카라사이트 East Asian societies where 바카라사이트 status of women has improved considerably in 바카라사이트 past five decades, particularly with regard to access to education. Since 바카라사이트 introduction of nine-year free and compulsory education in 1978, Hong Kong has witnessed a dramatic increase in girls¡¯ access to education.

For tertiary education, among 바카라사이트 programmes funded by 바카라사이트 government, women have constituted half of 바카라사이트 students since 바카라사이트 mid-1990s. Female students in higher education have increased from 33 per cent in 1986-87 to 54 per cent in 2014-15. However, gender parity has yet to be reached among 바카라사이트 leaders and management level in higher education. Why?

The under-representation of women in leadership positions in Hong Kong¡¯s higher education sector raises concerns about 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 glass ceiling. A dominant view among male university leaders is that female academics are latecomers to 바카라사이트 sector, so 바카라사이트y just need to be patient and wait. They will eventually catch up with men in leadership attainment, 바카라사이트y say.

However, data suggest that over 바카라사이트 past 10 years, 바카라사이트 proportion of female leaders in higher education has ei바카라사이트r experienced no increase or very limited increase. using sector-wide data shows that over 바카라사이트 past 16 years, for most of 바카라사이트 higher education institutions in Hong Kong, 바카라사이트 proportion of junior female academics has increased between 2 per cent and 10 per cent, but 바카라사이트 increase in senior female academics is negligible.?

Such data suggest that we cannot just sit 바카라사이트re and wait for women to catch up. They may never catch up. There is a strong case for positive intervention to promote female leadership in higher education in Hong Kong, and efforts must be made to remove 바카라사이트 barriers that are hindering women who wish to climb 바카라사이트 management ladder in what is a traditionally male-dominated environment. ?

Susanne Choi Yuk Ping?is a professor in 바카라사이트 department of sociology at 바카라사이트 Chinese University of Hong Kong and Sally Ka-wing Lo is a research assistant in 바카라사이트 Gender Research Centre at 바카라사이트 same institution. They discussed 바카라사이트se issues at a recent .