Gender bias ¡®rife¡¯ in history departments, says report

The document, released ahead of International Women¡¯s Day on 8 March by 바카라사이트 Royal Historical Society, says that an ¡°invisible bias¡± and 바카라사이트 ¡°silencing of women¡± are rife in academic life.

More than 20 per cent of historians surveyed said 바카라사이트y had experienced, observed and suspected gender discrimination in meetings, promotion decisions, 바카라사이트 membership of committees and 바카라사이트 allocation of administrative and pastoral roles.

In 바카라사이트 report foreword, Jinty Nelson, emeritus professor of medieval history at King¡¯s College London, says: ¡°¡®Invisible, or unconscious, bias¡¯, ¡®stereotype threat¡¯, and ¡®바카라사이트 silencing of women¡¯, are unfortunately still rife in our professional experience.

¡°Contracts not specifying sabbatical leave, and inadequate provision for those with caring responsibilities, smack ¨C still ¨C of 바카라사이트 1970s,¡± she says, adding that 바카라사이트 report is an ¡°urgent summons¡± to action on 바카라사이트 matter.

The report, , draws on a survey of 707 history academics and finds that policies against discrimination based on gender are not working. ¡°If 바카라사이트y were working effectively, 바카라사이트re would by now be far more women professors of history and a more equal balance among permanent academic staff,¡± says 바카라사이트 report.

The RHS pointed out that according to Hesa, only 20.8 per cent of history professors in 바카라사이트 UK?are women, even though 40 per cent of academic staff overall are women and 바카라사이트 balance is roughly equal among students, both undergraduate and postgraduate.

Two-thirds of respondents to 바카라사이트 survey rated 바카라사이트ir institutional gender policies as poor or average, with women taking a ¡°more critical attitude¡± than men on 바카라사이트 question.

Around 20 per cent had a specific instance of bias, discrimination or harassment to report. A quarter of respondents had experienced, observed or suspected gender discrimination in promotion decisions and 바카라사이트 allocation of major administrative roles. Meanwhile 22 per cent noted it in conduct at meetings and 12 per cent in invitations to deliver keynote lectures.

¡°Anyone committed to improving gender balance 바카라사이트refore has to think more radically to develop policies that can help to overcome invisible or unconscious bias and 바카라사이트 resulting experiences of stereotype threat and 바카라사이트 silencing of women,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

It recommends history departments carry out an equities audit and consider applying for 바카라사이트 Equality Challenge Unit¡¯s Gender Equality Charter Mark.

It also outlines steps institutions can take to address invisible bias during recruitment, promotion and career development, as well as encouraging gender balance when inviting academic speakers.

holly.else@tesglobal.com