Academic Women Chemists in the 20th Century Past, Present, Projections, Part II Nina Matheny Roscher The American University, Washington, DC 20016 Margaret A. Cavanaugh George Washington University, Washington, DC 20552
The surveys conducted by the American Chemical Society have enabled us to follow the participation of women in chemistry for the last 15 years. Five ye& ago we reported on the results of the 1985 survey ( I ) . Here we report on the status of women in chemistry in academe as revealed by the 1990 survey (2). These surveys provide the best statistical information on women chemists available (241, makingit possible not only to understand the present status of women chemists, but also, because the results span 15 years, to perceive trends. Here we emphasize the im~licationsfor the future ~ a r t i c i ~ a t i oofnwomen chemists in academe. The 1990 ACS Comprehensive and Employment Status Survey had a target population of ACS members who had US. mailing addresses, were not retired or older than 70, and had neither student nor emeritus status. On January 31. 1990. ACS members totalled 133.799. , , of whom 88.810 were eligible for inclusion in the survey. Approximately 17.3% of the targeted group were women (2). By the May 1990 deadline, 39,336 questionnaires had been returned with a response rate of 44.3%. The response rate for men and women was comparable with the survey group including 17.9%women. Trends in the Entry of Women into Chemistry The number of U.S. men obtaining degrees a t all levels has continued to decline and the number of U.S. women obtaining degrees has continued to increase. As a result, the age and experience distributions for men and women are still quite different in 1990. The differences are greatest for BS chemists and reflect generally the proportion of degrees granted to women in recent years. Among those whose highest degree is the bachelor's, 40% of the women were less than 30 years old in 1990;whereas, only 19% of the men were that young. One-fourth of the men were older than 55 compared to 8% of the women. This contrast continues for the advanced degrees. At the MS level, 18%of the women were less than 30 compared to 25% of the men, but 38% of the women and 32% of the men were in their 30's and only 18% of the women were over 50 compared to 31.5% of the men. Twelve percent of the women holding PhD's in chemistry were under 30; whereas, only 4.5% of the men holding PhD's in chemistry were in that age group (2). For the last three decades, the number of women earning degrees in chemistry has been rising steadily. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (6).in 1960 women earned 21.0% of the BS degrees, 16.5% of the MS degrees, and 4.6% of the PhD degrees. In 1975 the comparable figures were 22.4%, 20.7%, and 11.2%, respectively.
Although the authors are employees ofthe NSF, any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
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The ACS Committee on Professional Training reports that in 1985 women earned 35.3% of the bachelor's degrees, 32.3% of the master's degrees, and 19.9%of the doctorates (7). In 1990women earned 39.7%of the bachelor's degrees; 37.3% of the master's degrees and 24.6% of the doctorates (8). In 30 years, the number of chemists earning PhD's doubled, hut the number for women increased 12 times. The percent of women earning PhD's in the physical sciences a s compared to all PhD's has declined from 5.8 in 1966 to 4.9 in 1989, or 15%. By contrast, the percent of all doctorates by men earning PhD's in the physical sciences has declined from 16% in 1966 to 12.2% in 1989, or nearly 25%. The pattern for entry of students into advanced degree programs provides a basis for estimating the composition of new P h D ' b a n d thus the academic workforc+in future years. One measure of entry rate is the fraction of bachelor's degree recipients who go on to obtain the doctorate in chemistry. The number of recipients of the PhD in chemistry is calculated as a percent of the number of BS recipients six years earlier. In 1969-1970,26% of men who had received the BS in 1963-1964 earned the PhD; for women the comparable figure was 8.8%. In 1989-1990, the number receiving the PhD as a percentage of the number receiving the BS six years earlier was 21% for men and 13%for women. Distributlon of Women Chemists by Type of Employer During the first half of the century, academe was the main employer of women chemists and may have provided three-quarters or more of the positions for those with doctorates. Even by 1975(5)over half (54.4%)ofthePhD-holding women chemists who were employed full-time (FT) were employed by academic institutions. By 1980 (4) this firmre had droo~edto 45% and bv 1985 even lower to 39% (31,suggesting a movement of doctoral women chemists out of academe had beeun. The 1990 t21 data confirms that the trend has been sustained, since 39% doctoral women chemists remain e m ~ l o v e din academic institutions. Throughout the 1975-i960 interim, the percentage of FT I'hD male chemists em~loved - . in academe hovered near 33%. The main increase in employment opportunities for PhD women chemists has occurred in industry. In 1975,22%of the FT PhD women chemists were employed in industry. By 1980 the figure had risen to 28%, by 1985 to 36%, and by 1990 to 44%. Numerically, 925 women and 8,442 men a t the PhD level reported employment in private industry in 1990. In 1985 only 641 women reported holding such positions; in 1980,373; in 1975,197. Among chemists who are within 10 years of their BS degree, women have chosen industry over academe almost 2.9 to 1,and men almost 3.5 to 1. If this trend continues, the percentage of doctoral women chemists employed in academe can be expected to continue to decline. Since women's share of new PhD's
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Distribution of Women in Rank by Type of Institution
Present Status of Women Chemists in Academe-Promotion, Tenure, Salary Because of the small numbers in the survey, statistical rules no longer rigorously apply; however, some conclusions can be drawn about Percent Holding Professorial Rank the status ofwomen chemists in academe. It ap32 pears that women faculty members hired in the 30 28 last 10 years at BS-granting institutions have 26 24 been advanced to associate and full professor 22 ranks in the same proportions as their male col20 18 leagues. In 1985 we expressed concern about 16 the tenure rate at PhD institutions. While the 14 12 data for associate and full professors holding 10 8 tenure at these institutions is now comparable, 6 we are concerned that among assistant profes4 2 sors 13%of the women are not in tenure-track 10 15 20 25 30 35 positions compared to 6% of the men. Differences i n advancement persist for Years Since BS women at higher experience levels. For exam-BS t"fj PhD ole. at BS institutions. 49% of male facultv FigJre 1. Women holding professional ran* at BS (triangle). MS (SqLare),and PhD (as-inembers with 20-24 yiars of experience are ler~sk) inst't~lionsin 1990 as percent of experience grow. professors compared to 34% of the women in that same grouping. For those with similar experience at PhD-granting institutions, 63% of promises to continue its rise, similar distributions for docthe men are professors compared to 46% of the women. Betoral men and women in the workplace could easily occur cause women are not represented in the senior experience within 10 years. groups, higher degree granting institutions or the upper ranks to the same extent as men, it is not surprising that Recent Trends in Entry of Women into Academic overall salaries for PhD women in academe recently were Positions reported to be 90% of men's (2). When the distribution by experience level of FT PhD When salary wmparisons are made for matched samples women holding professorial rank in 1985 was compared to of men and women faculty members, that is, those with the the 1980 distribution.. it aowared that the influx of vounsame terminal degree, rank, and experience level at the .. ger women PhD's into the professorial ranks had crested. same type of institution, women's salaries continue to lag, Despite a substantial increase in the number of women but not so markedly. At BS- and MS-granting institutions, there is generally a 3% discrepancy, but at PhD-granting PhD graduates available for hire, the number of newly institutions, there is a 7% margin for associate and full hired women faculty members in the 5-9 years-sinceBS professors 25 years past their BS degree. For women hired group had declined and the percentage of women faculty since 1975, salaries are generally more wmpetitive with members in the 10-14 and 15-19 years-since-BScategories men's at all types of institutions (2). had decreased by 23%. Because the number of male PhD's Consistent with the recent decline in the number of posientering the professorial ranks also had decreased, women tions in the professorial ranks, the 1990 survey found in the 5-9 years-since-BS group showed a small increase 31.3% of PhD women chemists employed in academe were as a fraction of their experience group, from 12.5%in 1980 instructors or research associates, up from 20.8%in 1980 to 13.5%in 1985. These data prompted our projection that (4). Fifteen percent of the academic men reported holding by the year 2000, doctoral women would hold 16%of fullsimilar positions in 1990 (2).Salaries for instructors have time professorial positions, approximately 8% of those at not risen as fast as salaries for the professorial ranks. PhD-granting institutions, and 18%at MS- and BS-grantThere has been a significant decrease in PhD women eming institutions. oloved oart-time in the last five vears-from 5.1% to 4.0Pk. Shown in Figure 1are the percentages of women among Of all part-time women chemists, no matter the degree faculty holding professorial rank at BS-, MS- and PhDlevel, 63% are employed in academe; part-time workers granting institutions by experience group in 1990. The constitute 5.5% of all women chemists. Most often, they data show a more enwuraging trend. Women are being work more than half time. A third of them say they prefer hired at higher rates, and now represent 16.5% of 'hew" part-time work, and 42% report that they are working faculty (i.e., in the 5-9 years-since-BS group) at PhDpart-time due to family constraints. Of all academic granting institutions. The percentage of women faculty women chemists in 1990, 68% have been or are married members in the 15-19 and 20-24 years-since-BS groups (2). also has increased slightly, perhaps indicating higher retention of women. Assuming that the hiring rates continue Effect of the Aging Professoriateon Women's Future at these increased levels, we revise our projections and esParticipation in Academe timate that by the year 2000, PhD institutions may have To project the composition of the chemical work force in 15% women on faculty, and MS and BS institutions may the year 2000, it is necessary to consider both those who approach 21% and 25% women faculty, respectively. Note will leave and those who will enter the workplace. For emthat, continuing a century-old trend, the higher the degree ployed chemists in 1990,14.1%of the women were over 50 granted by the institution, the lower the percentage of years of age compared to 31.3% of the men. Although the women employed in its professorial ranks and the lower its percentage differences are revealing, the numerical differhirina- rate for women. Overall in 1990, 24% of faculty at ences illustrate even more dramatically the significant institutions granting associate degrees were women; the changes that will occur over the next decade. Of the survey analoeous oercentaee for US-. MS- and PhD-mantine inrespondents holding the PhD, 5630 men and 411 women were over 50 years of age compared to 5768 men and 1295 stitutions were, respectively, 17.3%,12.0%,and 8.6% (2).
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The ACS data indicate that changes in the last five vears have been much ereater ~~than predic&d by any of these models. In the period from 1985 to 1990, the percentage of academic PhD chemists holding the rank of assistant professor increased from 13.5% to 15% for men and from 22.8% to 31% for women. Meanwhile. the oercent]20-29 age holding the rank of ihstrLctor remained steadv at 3.9% to 3.7% for men I \ " I " and 11.7%to f1.9% for women. 60-69 The statistics are dominated by findings 6% in PhD-granting and professional institutions, which in 1985 employed 54% of the 50-59 men and 46% of the women chemists in 7% higher education. For faculty in PhDgranting institutions, 11% were over age 60, with an additional 14% age 55 to 59, and 15%age 50 to 54. Twenty-five percent of the assistant professors indicated that thev were more than 15 vears bevond their baihelor's degree. ~ i g h t e e nperient of the faculty at the assistant. associate. and full . professor ranks did not hold tenure in these institutions. Of that number only 83.5% were assistant professors. ~ i ~ h t i 30-39 two percent of the full professors were 32% more t h a n 25 years beyond their bachelor's degree. Seventeen percent of the men and 35% of the women were in 20-29 nonfaculty positions at PhD-granting and 8% professional institutions; in 1980, only 8% of the men and 30% of the women were in 60-69 such positions in these schools. lo% In the master's-degree-granting institutions, only 6.6% of the faculty were over 60, but 16% were between 55 and 59 and 9-59 18%between 50 and 54. Less than 22% of 19% the faculty were under 40. Moreover, 80.2% of the 652 reporting faculty were tenured and among the untenured faculty, 18%held the rank ofprofessor or associate professor and typically had more than 25 years experience since their bachelor's degree. In the baccalaureate institutions, only 6% of the faculty were over 60 and 12%were age 5569, but 16%were age 50-54. Of the respondents to the survey, 28% were under the age of 40. In these institutions, 74.6% of the faculty were tenured with 18.1% of the untenured faculty holding the ranks of professor or associate professor. Among the assistant professors, 8.4% were tenured and 33.6% were more than 15 Years beyond their baccalaureate degree. Using the extremely unlikely assumptions of no deaths Or retirements before age 70, no ''quits" or tenure-denials for those currently on staff, and no change in the total number of faculty members, PhD-granting institutions can expect to replace 26%of their chemistry faculty by the year 2005. This is obviously a minimal estimate and more realistic assumptions could more than double the value. using the same M S - institutions ~ ~ will~ need~ ~ to replace at a minimum 22% of their faculty and BSgranting institutions, 19%. ln 1984, the ~ ~ tscience i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ d ~ tchemists i ~ ~ were emthat 18,821 ployed in U.S. academic institutions (13).If the current ~ chemistry each year is main. rate of 2,000 new p h D 7 in tained, 30,000 new PhD's will graduate in the next 15 years. If all choose employment in chemistry and one-third choose academic employment as in the past, the 10,000 PhD's will be onlyjust enough to match more realistic need
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FACULT/ AGE DISTRIBUTION IN 1985 30-39 4%
30-39 36%-
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MEN
24%
WOMEN
Figure 2. Age distribution of academic PhD chemists in 1985.
FACULTY AG E DISTRIBUTION IN 1990 ~
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5 0- 59 33%
MEN
WOMEN
Figure 3. Age distribution of academic PhD chemists in 1990.
women under age 40. At the BS level there were 176 women and 1542 men over the age of 50 in the work force, but 1102 men and 907 women under the age of 30. If the trends among those entering the work force during the last 10 years continue, the ratio of men to women employed in chemistry will be decidedly different 15 years from now. a sufficiently large of 1985 the ACS academic scientists so that for the frst tirne data might be grouped by type of institution, tenure status, age, and rank to obtain statistically valid results (3). The 1990 survey gathered similar Figures and the
age profile of chemists in academe in 1985 and in 1990, The increase in men over age 50 is particularly striking. Despite the difficultiesinvolved (I),these results can be used to test some of the projection models used to estimate scientific personnel needs for the 21st century. For instance, the National Research Council report on "Research Excellence" (10)said that in 1977 the age distribution of FT chemistry faculty was 8.0% over age 60; 8.0% age 5660; and 8.5%, age 5165. The Demand for Uniuersity Scientists (11)anticipated that in 1985,68.5%of the faculty in the physical sciences would be tenured and the median biological age would be 51.8 for tenured faculty and 35.4 for nontenured faculty.
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estimates. The promised "crisis" will surely come by the turn of the century, and PhD-granting institutions will be aEected hardest and earliest. Summary
Women are a small but prowine fraction of chemistrv facfive ulty members at U. S. in&tutio& and during the years have made notable gains inentry-level assistant professor positions. Because of the large number of retirements of male facultv members expected in the next 15 years, the of women fachty members is forecast to continue to increase at a sienificant rate. Increased hiring at PhD institutions during
