Gendered education

'U' should be aware of possible sex biases

The University prides itself on teaching subjects from a broad variety of perspectives. Be it in the humanities, social or hard sciences, the administration has held that the material presented should not be one-sided, nor male-dominated.

In response to her observation that such things were occurring at the University's political science department, former assistant Prof. Jacqueline Stevens sued the University for sexual discrimination and defamation earlier this month after she was denied tenure in November 1997. That month, according to the Office of Budget and Planning's most recent tenure information, the political science department was composed of 22 tenured men and only six tenured women. In addition, nine men were in tenure-track professorships while only four women held the same status. Between 1991 and 1998, the political science department has recommended six out of eight male candidates as opposed to only one out of four women for tenure.

These shocking statistics give ample reason for Stevens to suggest discriminatory practices, which are not only unfair to female professors in the department, but conflict with two values the University claims to stand for - equality and diversity.

The suspicion of discrimination also casts a poor image on the University. But worse are the adverse effects the alleged faculty irregularity has on students. With such a preponderance of male perspectives, political science students may receive a slanted perspective in their curriculum and course options.

American society has been deemed, in many ways, male-dominated. History clearly illustrates that men have had an advantage not only in the field of political science but also in the job market in general. By appointing 16 men and one woman to the LSA employment committees and subsequently promoting an uneven ratio of men to women, University administrators are perpetuating a cycle of gender discrimination.

Political science is itself a male-dominated field. By employing more female professors, the University could help break the typical male-dominated political science trend, and give students an advantage by offering a more holistic education. Female students would especially benefit from more equally staffed departments, as female professors would serve as successful examples in the world of politics. Prestigious professors, both men and women, can bring notoriety to the University's already well-known department. But such an imbalance as Stevens claims poses a threat to the breadth of the curriculum and the department's reputation.

In the spirit of diversity, the University should ensure that all departments employ equitable tenure standards and are composed of a cross-section of researching academics. Only then will students reap the benefits of a well-rounded education. With a broad range of outlooks and experiences to be shared, students should be exposed to all possible viewpoints.

09-30-98