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Akademikerinnen

Der Trend zur Höherqualifizierung im Erwerbssystem bescherte vor allem Akademikerinnen und Akademikern über viele Jahre hinweg Beschäftigungszuwächse und niedrige Arbeitslosenquoten. Doch hervorragend ausgebildete Frauen haben eine ähnlich problematische Situation wie ihre geringer qualifizierten Geschlechtsgenossinnen: Sie verdienen weniger als vergleichbar ausgebildete Männer und haben es schwerer, eine Karriere zu verfolgen. Dieses Themendossier bietet Publikationen und weiterführende Links zu den Arbeitsmarktchancen und den Beschäftigungsbedingungen hochqualifizierter Frauen.
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  • Literaturhinweis

    The Gender Pay Gap in University Student Internships (2026)

    Antoni, Manfred ; Gerner, Hans-Dieter; Jäckle, Robert ; Schwarz, Stefan ;

    Zitatform

    Antoni, Manfred, Hans-Dieter Gerner, Robert Jäckle & Stefan Schwarz (2026): The Gender Pay Gap in University Student Internships. In: German Economic Review, Jg. 27, H. 3, S. 283-329., 2025-09-18. DOI:10.1515/ger-2024-0130

    Abstract

    "Internships are an important and often mandatory part of academic education. They offer valuable insights into the labor market but can also expose students to negative aspects of the working world, such as gender pay disparities. We provide first evidence of a gender pay gap in mandatory internships, with women earning up to 21 % less per hour than men. This gap is not due to women choosing higher-quality internships over higher pay. Factors such as field of study, risk aversion, competitiveness, the focus of the internship, and firm characteristics account for a large share of the gap. Further analyses show that the internship pay gap is broadly similar to the wage gap at labor market entry among graduates. We discuss potential mechanisms through which the internship pay gap may be related to the entry wage gap." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © DeGruyter Brill) ((en))

    Beteiligte aus dem IAB

    Antoni, Manfred ; Schwarz, Stefan ;
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  • Literaturhinweis

    Female Promotions and the Academic Pipeline: Evidence from a Natural Experiment (2026)

    Bagues, Manuel; Zinovyeva, Natalia ; Makany, Milan; Vattuone, Giulia;

    Zitatform

    Bagues, Manuel, Milan Makany, Giulia Vattuone & Natalia Zinovyeva (2026): Female Promotions and the Academic Pipeline: Evidence from a Natural Experiment. (CEPR discussion paper / Centre for Economic Policy Research 21325), London, 119 S.

    Abstract

    "We study how faculty promotion decisions shape women's careers and the academic pipeline, using data from 4,000 Spanish university departments across all disciplines. We identify exogenous variation in promotions using the random assignment of evaluators to promotion committees between 2002 and 2008: applicants whose committees included a co-author or colleague were significantly more likely to qualify for promotion. We document two main findings. First, failing to obtain tenure has asymmetrically lasting consequences for women. Those who narrowly miss tenure are 57 percentage points less likely to be tenured fifteen years later, compared to 29 percentage points for men. Second, when women do obtain tenure, the effects extend well beyond their own careers: promoting a woman to Associate Professor increases female faculty by 1.5 members after 15 years, leads to six additional female PhD graduates over the following decade, and raises the number who subsequently remain in academia and reach tenured positions." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    Ingenieurinnen in Deutschland – Potenziale, Herausforderungen und Entwicklungen: Teil 1: Analyse und Handlungsempfehlungen (2026)

    Betz, Julia; Geis-Thöne, Wido; Plünnecke, Axel;

    Zitatform

    Betz, Julia, Wido Geis-Thöne & Axel Plünnecke (2026): Ingenieurinnen in Deutschland – Potenziale, Herausforderungen und Entwicklungen. Teil 1: Analyse und Handlungsempfehlungen. (IW-Gutachten / Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft Köln), Köln, 49 S.

    Abstract

    "Deutschland steht im Innovationswettbewerb zunehmend unter Druck. Die Situation wird durch demografische Entwicklungen, sinkende Studierendenzahlen in technischen Fächern und Schwächen im Bildungssystem weiter verschärft. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist die stärkere Einbindung von Frauen in Ingenieur- und Informatikberufe von entscheidender Bedeutung, um Innovationskraft und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit zu sichern. Positiv ist vor diesem Hintergrund zu bewerten, dass der Anteil der Frauen unter allen Erwerbstätigen mit einem ingenieurwissenschaftlichen Studium (inklusive Informatik) in den letzten Jahren gestiegen ist, insbesondere unter jüngeren Erwerbstätigen. Die Frauenanteile sind dabei in Dienstleistungsbranchen wie Schule, Hochschule höher als in industriell geprägten Branchen. In den letzten Jahren haben sich auch der Anteil und die Anzahl ausländischer Frauen mit Ingenieurstudium unter den Erwerbstätigen erhöht. Die Erwerbstätigkeit von Ingenieurinnen ist sowohl in sozialversicherungspflichtigen Ingenieur- und Informatikberufen als auch in anderen Berufen oder als Beamte/Selbständige gewachsen. Betrachtet man die sozialversicherungspflichtige Beschäftigung in Ingenieur- und Informatikberufen, so sind auch hier die Frauenanteile in den letzten Jahren gestiegen – regional vor allem in den westdeutschen Flächenländern, die auf diehohen Frauenanteile im Osten Deutschlands aufholen konnten. Betrachtet man die Frauenanteile in den Ingenieur- und Informatikberufen auf Basis der 400 Kreise und Städte, so sind diese im Norden und Osten Deutschlands tendenziell etwas höher als im Westen und Süden. Die Frauenanteile in den einzelnen Ingenieurberufen unterscheiden sich zwischen den Fachrichtungen: In den Bereichen Rohstoffe, Chemie und Bau sind sie höher, während sie in den Ingenieurberufen der Metallverarbeitung und der Energie- und Elektrotechnik niedriger ausfallen. Etwa 30 Prozent der Frauen in Ingenieurberufen sind teilzeitbeschäftigt. Steigende Frauenanteile sind auch an den Hochschulen und in der Forschung gemessen durch Patentanmeldungen zu beobachten. Auch bei diesen Kennziffern bleibt aber deutliches Entwicklungspotenzial. Hier ist bereits an den Schulen und in der Berufsorientierung anzusetzen. Im Alter von 15 Jahren gibt es bei Mädchen und Jungen nur leichte Unterschiede bei den MINT-Kompetenzen, größer sind die Unterschiede bei Selbstkonzept und Interesse. Dabei sind junge Frauen noch einmal deutlich stärker für den Klimaschutz sensibilisiert als junge Männer. Aus Sicht der Unternehmen kommt den Ingenieurwissenschaften und der Informatik eine sehr große Bedeutung für Innovationen im Klimaschutz zu. Dazu ist der Bereich Gesundheit/Medizin ein großes Wachstumsfeld für die Ingenieurwissenschaften. Berechnet man die künftige Beschäftigung in den Ingenieur- und Informatikberufen in Szenarien, so wird demografiebedingt das Beschäftigungswachstum aus dem Zeitraum 2012 bis 2024 in der bevorstehenden Zeitphase bis 2035 deutlich zurückgehen. Im Aktivierungsszenario Frauen werden durch Berufs- und Studienorientierung und Mentoringprogramme Trends beim Zugang junger Frauen in die Ingenieur- und Informatikberufen zumindest zu einem Teil fortgeschrieben. Dadurch kann die Beschäftigung im Jahr 2035 gegenüber dem Basisszenario um 56.100 Frauen erhöht werden. Hierdurch entsteht ein Wertschöpfungszuwachs im Jahr 2035 in Höhe von 7,0 Milliarden Euro. Aus den Untersuchungen leiten sich Empfehlungen ab in den Handlungsfelder Berufsorientierung, familienfreundliche Arbeitswelt, familienfreundliche Infrastruktur, Zugang zu Weiterbildungsangeboten und Frauen in Führungspositionen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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  • Literaturhinweis

    A missed opportunity? Labor demand and workforce diversity (2026)

    Bindler, Anna ; Janys, Lena ; Boelmann, Barbara; Santiago Wolf, Luisa;

    Zitatform

    Bindler, Anna, Barbara Boelmann, Lena Janys & Luisa Santiago Wolf (2026): A missed opportunity? Labor demand and workforce diversity. (CEPR discussion paper / Centre for Economic Policy Research 21663), London, 51 S.

    Abstract

    "How do labor demand shocks affect workforce diversity in the absence of targeted diversity policies? A conceptual framework illustrates the potential trade-off between the demographic and quality composition of a workforce when there is a positive labor demand shock. Exploiting the German reunification as a natural experiment, we analyze the academic labor market where nearly all social sciences professors in East Germany were replaced while STEM faculty remained largely unchanged. Using administrative data and a regional difference-in-differences design, we find increased dispersion in the institutional quality of hires, indicating that the new hires came from less select departments. At the same time, female representation did not increase despite qualified women in the pipeline. Instead, East German hiring patterns converged to those in West Germany in terms of gender composition. In simulations, we investigate implied losses: Under conservative assumptions, we show that, considering the pipeline of qualified applicants, the marginal female hire’s quality is approximately half a standard deviation higher than the marginal male hire’s quality." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    Women in STEM careers through the lens of career construction theory: A study on females' experiences in persisting in the engineering field (2026)

    Bonesso, Sara ; Bressan, Federica;

    Zitatform

    Bonesso, Sara & Federica Bressan (2026): Women in STEM careers through the lens of career construction theory: A study on females' experiences in persisting in the engineering field. In: Journal of vocational behavior, Jg. 164. DOI:10.1016/j.jvb.2025.104204

    Abstract

    "The persistence of female segregation in many science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational and occupational fields is largely ascribed to gender-specific barriers that women face during their lifespan. Relying on career construction theory, this study aims to increase the understanding of how women in STEM craft and develop their own career over time by attaining leadership positions, in comparison to their male counterparts. In this inductive qualitative research, drawing on career-based interviews on a sample of women and men in engineering, the narrative analysis reveals dynamic changes in women's career adaptability's resources (the 4C's: concern, control, curiosity, and confidence) across specific phases of the lifespan (education, early career, and upper leadership). This study expands our understanding of the role of women's agency in shaping their STEM careers, delineating the specific configurations of career adaptability resources they can deploy to constructively navigate their professional journey. Moreover, because career adaptability changes in response to environmental conditions, this study provides novel insights about the interplay between career adaptability resources and the most relevant contextual factors that support or inhibit women in the pursuit of their career development during each career phase. Overall, our research provides evidence that a lifespan approach to career development is particularly effective in sectors that are still characterized by gender norms. Practical implications are provided for women to help them self-regulate their careers, as well as for educational and organizational policies to help address the underrepresentation of women in the STEM workforce." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, ©2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    An Evaluation of the Gender Inclusivity of UK Senior Academic Job Advertisements (2026)

    Hooper, Helen ;

    Zitatform

    Hooper, Helen (2026): An Evaluation of the Gender Inclusivity of UK Senior Academic Job Advertisements. In: Gender, work & organization, Jg. 33, H. 4, S. 1179-1195. DOI:10.1111/gwao.70092

    Abstract

    "Previous research demonstrates that small changes to the content of job advertisements can influence an applicant’s perceived fit with the role being advertised and has analyzed the effects of specific features on women. This paper presents an original gender inclusion analysis framework and reports on its use to critically assess 140 senior academic job adverts as an underexplored institutional mechanism that may help sustain gender inequality in academic leadership. This research concludes that such adverts are not gender inclusive, as most do not explicitly encourage nor support gender diversity, and many contain subtle signals that could increase women's perceived lack of fit with advertised roles; 41% of adverts utilized masculine wording, which could deter female candidates; just 15% (n = 21) prioritized women via a positive action statement; specific employee benefits, which could signal support for applicants with (child)caring responsibilities, were not prioritized, with 11% (n = 15) and 6% (n = 9) of adverts promoting family-friendly policies or an on-site nursery, respectively, and only 6% of roles were listed with a part-time working opportunity. 97% of institutes in this research held an Athena Swan Charter award in recognition of gender equality work, suggesting a lack of impact on recruitment and highlighting scope for development of gender-fair recruitment practices." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    Is the bar higher for female scholars? Evidence from career steps in economics (2026)

    Johannesen, Niels ; Muchardt, Simon;

    Zitatform

    Johannesen, Niels & Simon Muchardt (2026): Is the bar higher for female scholars? Evidence from career steps in economics. In: Journal of Public Economics, Jg. 257. DOI:10.1016/j.jpubeco.2026.105611

    Abstract

    "Do gender disparities in academia reflect that female scholars are held to higher standards than males? We address this question by comparing the academic achievements of male and female scholars in economics who make the same career step. Across four domains—faculty appointments, network invitations, grant awards and editor appointments—we find no evidence that standards are higher for females. By contrast, the average female has fewer citations and publications than the average male who makes the same career step. In most domains, this reflects a gender gap for “marginal” scholars, consistent with a lower bar for females." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    Beyond the ‘integration paradox’: educational attainment similarly predicts gender discrimination among women and ethnic discrimination among minorities (2026)

    Lavest, Chloé ; Drouhot, Lucas G. ; Linden, Meta van der; Tubergen, Frank van ;

    Zitatform

    Lavest, Chloé, Lucas G. Drouhot, Meta van der Linden & Frank van Tubergen (2026): Beyond the ‘integration paradox’: educational attainment similarly predicts gender discrimination among women and ethnic discrimination among minorities. In: European Sociological Review, Jg. 42, H. 1, S. 103-117. DOI:10.1093/esr/jcaf039

    Abstract

    "Highly educated individuals of immigrant origins perceive more ethnic discrimination than their less educated counterparts—a now well-established finding referred to as the ‘integration paradox’. In this paper, we study whether this purported paradox captures general educational effects on the lived experiences of historically disadvantaged populations going beyond the scope of integration among immigrants. We compare the educational gradient of perceptions of ethno-racial discrimination among ethnic minorities with the educational gradient of perceptions of gender discrimination among women. We also study intersectional dimensions in the experiences of minority women and those reporting multiple grounds for discrimination. Analyses based on representative data from two cross-sectional surveys in France - Trajectoires et Origines 1 and 2—involving over 35,000 respondents show that highly educated individuals, including both ethnic minorities and women, are more likely to report discrimination. Individuals who report discrimination on one ground are also more likely to report it on another ground. Our results suggest that the so-called integration paradox reflects more general educational effects on subjective experiences of exclusion that are not unique to immigrant-origin populations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    No Partner, No Children? Union Formation, Assortative Mating, and Educational Inequalities in Fertility in Germany (2026)

    Leesch, Julia ; Hiekel, Nicole ;

    Zitatform

    Leesch, Julia & Nicole Hiekel (2026): No Partner, No Children? Union Formation, Assortative Mating, and Educational Inequalities in Fertility in Germany. In: European Journal of Population, Jg. 42, H. 1. DOI:10.1007/s10680-026-09766-w

    Abstract

    "Education is linked to whether and with whom individuals form partnerships. However, it is largely unclear how educational differences in union formation and matching with equally, more, or less educated partners shape educational disparities in fertility. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we applied marginal structural models to investigate how higher education affects the probabilities of ever having a first and a second child, and to what extent these effects operate through union formation (having a partner or not) and assortative mating (having a highly educated partner or not). We compared women and men socialised in East and West Germany before reunification, two contexts with distinct gender and stratification regimes. Findings indicate that higher education influenced fertility directly and indirectly through partnership formation, but only marginally through partners’ education. Moreover, findings varied across contexts. In West Germany, higher education reduced women’s probability of becoming mothers but had minimal impact on second births. For men, higher education increased the probabilities of having both a first and a second child. These gendered effects emerged because higher education influenced fertility directly and indirectly via union formation. In East Germany, higher education had limited effects on fertility, except for increasing men’s secondbirth probabilities. These weak effects resulted from small direct effects, counterbalanced by indirect effects linking higher education and fertility through union formation and assortative mating. Our study contributes to debates about precursors to family formation, underscoring the importance of union formation as a mechanism linking education and fertility." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    Towards gender equality in scientific organizations: assessment and recommendations (2026)

    Nacache, Léa; Jami, Catherine; Roy, Marie-Françoise;

    Zitatform

    Nacache, Léa, Marie-Françoise Roy & Catherine Jami (2026): Towards gender equality in scientific organizations: assessment and recommendations. 126 S. DOI:10.24948/2026.03

    Abstract

    "Academies of science, medicine and engineering, along with international scientific unions, play an important role in shaping scientific agendas, recognizing scientific excellence, and advising policy-makers. In doing so, they influence whose expertise is visible and whose voices are heard in science. Persistent gender gaps within these organizations - relative to the share of women in the scientific workforce - raise questions about whether women scientists can participate, lead, and be recognized on equal terms." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    Gender dynamics in international student mobility: the case of the United Kingdom (2026)

    Neville, Ruth; Anastasiadou, Athina ;

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    Neville, Ruth & Athina Anastasiadou (2026): Gender dynamics in international student mobility: the case of the United Kingdom. (MPIDR working paper / Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research 2026-004), Rostock, 12 S. DOI:10.4054/mpidr-wp-2026-004

    Abstract

    "The gender composition of international student mobility (ISM) to the United Kingdom (United Kingdom) has historically favoured female students, but recent trends indicate a decline in their proportions. This paper investigates the changing trends of female international mobility to United Kingdom higher education. It utilises data from the United Kingdom Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) on international undergraduate student applications by gender. This study examines evolving patterns of ISM from both European Union (EU) and non-European Union (non-EU) countries, as well as the trajectories of specific countries of origin. Our findings reveal a decline in the share of female students from non-EU countries since 2021, alongside a reduction in female applicants from the EU post-Brexit. Additionally, we observe that countries like Pakistan and India consistently send fewer female students, remaining below gender parity. Using a Generalised Linear Model (GLM), we model the share of female students and assess the influence of demographic, cultural, and policy factors on the share of female applications. Based on these findings, we provide policy recommendations aimed at promoting gender equity in international student recruitment to the United Kingdom." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    When Matilda shows up: The double-edged impact of women researchers' media visibility in management science (2026)

    Parguel, Béatrice; Agogué, Marine ; Haunschild, Robin; Gauneau, Julie ;

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    Parguel, Béatrice, Marine Agogué & Julie Gauneau (2026): When Matilda shows up: The double-edged impact of women researchers' media visibility in management science. In: PLoS ONE, Jg. 21, H. 5. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0348097

    Abstract

    "Although the proportion of women in academic positions has increased, women researchers continue to receive less media coverage than their counterparts. To examine the implications of this underrepresentation, we investigate how different audiences respond to women researchers’ increased visibility in social sciences dissemination media. We conducted two laboratory experiments, the first with a sample of non-academic individuals (N = 271) and the second with a sample of graduate students (N = 129). Results show that greater visibility of women researchers reduces the gender gap in self-efficacy beliefs between men and women in both populations. It also increases women researchers’ perceived expertise among non-academic participants, but not among graduate students. Among the later, however, heightened visibility is also unexpectedly associated with a decline in the perceived attractiveness of academic careers, but only for men. While our research focuses specifically on women researchers in the field of management science and manipulates media visibility through the relative representation of women and men in a simulated scientific dissemination newsletter, our findings offer broader insights into how media exposure can influence self-efficacy beliefs, perceptions of researchers ’ expertise, and the attractiveness of academic careers. Building on these insights, we propose recommendations for researchers, academic institutions, and media organizations engaged in science dissemination." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    Being a woman or being a mathematician: Self and external perceptions of female early career researchers in a mathematical cluster of excellence (2026)

    Ransiek, Anna ; Mischau, Anina;

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    Ransiek, Anna & Anina Mischau (2026): Being a woman or being a mathematician: Self and external perceptions of female early career researchers in a mathematical cluster of excellence. In: Current Sociology, Jg. 74, H. 3, S. 337-357. DOI:10.1177/00113921241298699

    Abstract

    "In Germany, equality between men and women in mathematics, particularly in scientific leadership positions, is far from being achieved. This is despite to different equality measures implemented over the last few decades. Grounded in sociology of knowledge, interaction theory, and field theory, this article analyzes possible causes and mechanisms that maintain gender differences in a mathematical cluster of excellence in which gender equality is formulated as a goal and implemented in various measures. Based on 65 semi-structured interviews, the focus is on the self-perceptions of female early career researchers as mathematicians, as well as the (gendered) attributions they have to deal with by (male and female) scientists in leadership positions against the background of the specific culture in a mathematical cluster of excellence. We highlight the tensions that female early career researchers identify in being regarded as women when they want to be perceived and recognized first as mathematicians. We shed light on how this tension is connected to the discipline and (re)produced by scientists in leadership positions in their patterns of interpretation about equality (measures)." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    "Weil man dann quasi nur noch die Quotenfrau ist" – (De-)Thematisierungen des "Frau-Seins" in MINT (2026)

    Ritter, Monique ; Rohlf, Bernadette;

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    Ritter, Monique & Bernadette Rohlf (2026): "Weil man dann quasi nur noch die Quotenfrau ist" – (De-)Thematisierungen des "Frau-Seins" in MINT. In: Gender, Jg. 18, H. 2, S. 135-150. DOI:10.3224/gender.v18i2.10

    Abstract

    "Dieser Beitrag untersucht das Erleben von Wissenschaftlerinnen als Studierende oder Mitarbeitende in MINT-Studiengängen an sächsischen Universitäten und Hochschulen, insbesondere in Informatik, Maschinenbau und Elektrotechnik. Basierend auf 17 problemzentrierten Interviews analysieren wir die widersprüchliche (De-)Thematisierung des ‚Frau-Seins‘ in männlich dominierten Disziplinen. Die Befragten berichten von Herabsetzungserfahrungen, Anerkennungskämpfen und dem Wunsch nach mehr Kolleginnen. Dennoch stehen viele Quotenregelungen kritisch gegenüber – nicht ausAblehnung der Gleichstellungsarbeit, sondern aus der Sorge, dass Quoten die meritokratische, als geschlechtslos verstandene Norm infrage stellen und ihre im männlich dominierten Umfeld hart erkämpfte Anerkennung schmälern. Nach einer statistischen Einführung skizziert der Beitrag den historischen Ausschluss von Frauen im Hochschulkontext sowie die Entwicklung von Quotenregelungen. Anschließend folgt eine empirische Analyse der widersprüchlichen Thematisierung weiblicher Alleinstellung in MINT. Abschließend werden Ansätze zur besseren Akzeptanz und Verankerung von Frauenfördermaßnahmen diskutiert – idealerweise unsichtbar wirkend, machtkritisch reflektiert und von allen Geschlechtern getragen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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  • Literaturhinweis

    Regrets, she's had a few: Gender and regret of computer science and engineering degrees (2026)

    VanHeuvelen, Tom ; Quadlin, Natasha ; Wald, Jordyn;

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    VanHeuvelen, Tom, Natasha Quadlin & Jordyn Wald (2026): Regrets, she's had a few: Gender and regret of computer science and engineering degrees. In: Social science research, Jg. 135. DOI:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2025.103298

    Abstract

    "In this article, we introduce a novel social fact that will be highly relevant for studies of gender inequality: women in computer science and, to a lesser extent, engineering fields report distinctly high levels of regret of their field of study compared to otherwise similar men. We develop expectations regarding gendered patterns of regret and examine them using nine waves of the Federal Reserve's Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) between 2015 and 2023. Using regression decomposition techniques, we demonstrate that observed economic, occupation, industry, and sociodemographic characteristics fare poorly in explaining the high regret of women in these fields. In fact, these fields are defined by a uniquely large unexplained amount of regret among women. Our findings raise alarm for those who wish to open access to these critical CS/Engineering fields for women: such endeavors will likely fail unless deep cultural work is done to change the regret that many women feel after successfully entering these fields." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 Published by Elsevier Inc.) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    Affective Temporalities When Making It Within Academia. The Case of Early Career Female Scholars in STEM (2026)

    Vertelyte, Mante ;

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    Vertelyte, Mante (2026): Affective Temporalities When Making It Within Academia. The Case of Early Career Female Scholars in STEM. In: Gender, work & organization, Jg. 33, H. 2, S. 572-582. DOI:10.1111/gwao.70068

    Abstract

    "Only few women make it to permanent academic positions in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). While working under temporary contracts, early career scientists have to fulfill a complex set of tasks in a limited amount of time and develop their CVs to compete for a permanent position. Based on interviews with early career female scientists working in the field of astrophysics at Danish universities, the article examines the affective mattering of time in their aspirations of pursuing academic positions in STEM. Specifically, through the women's narratives around the practice and notion of “having time with the telescope, ” this article analyses how intensities around telescope time affectively shape the routines of academic work and future aspirations. Asking how time comes to affectively matter in the experiences of early career female astrophysicists, the article engages with feminist new materialism and affect theory. The analysis shows how telescope time becomes an affective temporal intensity that simultaneously entangles hopes and fears for the future, the embodied gendered (im)possibilities of making it within academia, and temporal discrepancies between fixed-term academic contracts and the infinitude of scientific goals and aspirations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    Women in economics: The role of gendered references at entry in the profession (2025)

    Baltrunaite, Audinga ; Rizzica, Lucia ; Casarico, Alessandra ;

    Zitatform

    Baltrunaite, Audinga, Alessandra Casarico & Lucia Rizzica (2025): Women in economics: The role of gendered references at entry in the profession. In: European Economic Review, Jg. 180. DOI:10.1016/j.euroecorev.2025.105155

    Abstract

    "We study the presence and the extent of gender differences in reference letters for graduate students in economics and finance, and how they relate to early labor market outcomes. To these ends, we build a novel rich dataset and combine Natural Language Processing techniques with standard regression analysis. We find that men are described more often as standout and women as grindstone, i.e., hardworking and diligent; these differences are mainly driven by male letter writers, especially more senior ones. We then show that the former (latter) characteristics relate positively (negatively) with various subsequent career outcomes and that women obtain lower positive (marginally larger negative) returns from being described as standout (grindstone). We argue that, taken together, this evidence is consistent with the presence of implicit gender stereotypes as driving the observed differences in the way candidates are described." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.) ((en))

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  • Literaturhinweis

    Nudging women towards pursuing their university careers (2025)

    Bernhofer, Juliana; Pignataro, Giuseppe; Bonacini, Luca ;

    Zitatform

    Bernhofer, Juliana, Luca Bonacini & Giuseppe Pignataro (2025): Nudging women towards pursuing their university careers. In: Economica, Jg. 92, H. 367, S. 883-919. DOI:10.1111/ecca.12577

    Abstract

    "This study explores the impact of light-touch interventions on the academic outcomes of female scholarship recipients. In a randomized trial involving nearly 2000 students at the University of Bologna, we delivered a targeted message highlighting how higher education can reduce the gender gap in the labour market, and boost employment prospects. The nudge increased the likelihood of meeting scholarship requirements by nearly 5 percentage points, alongside significant gains in passing exams with higher credit values, and a reduction in failed exams in the medium term, with no short-term effects. Notably, there was an improvement in grades during the July/August exam period, reflecting a shift towards prioritizing quality over quantity in academic efforts, even though grades were not part of the requirements for maintaining scholarships. Treated students exhibited enhanced academic focus and more strategic study habits, without increasing overall exam load. These findings highlight the potential of cost-effective informational nudges to drive meaningful changes for women facing financial and informational barriers, providing valuable insights for policies designed to support female students. The results emphasize the importance of well-timed informational interventions in helping women to make informed decisions about their education, ultimately enhancing their academic success and long-term economic prospects." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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    Chancengerechtigkeit in wissenschaftlichen Karrieren: Deutschland im internationalen Vergleich (2025)

    Busch, Anne; Shajek, Alexandra; Hering, Martin;

    Abstract

    "Die vorliegende Studie analysiert die Chancengerechtigkeit in wissenschaftlichen Karrieren in Deutschland im internationalen Vergleich auf Grundlage von Daten aus der aktuellen Ausgabe (2024) des She-Figures-Reports der EU. Ergänzend werden auch Daten u.a. aus dem neuen Bundesbericht Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler in einer frühen Karrierephase (BuWiK 2025) betrachtet. Im Mittelpunkt stehen geschlechterbezogene Ungleichheiten entlang verschiedener Karrierestufen, von der Promotion über die Beschäftigung von Forscherinnen nach Wirtschaftssektoren bis hin zur Karriereentwicklung von Wissenschaftlerinnen auf verschiedenen Stufen (Leaky Pipeline). Die Auswertungen zeigen, dass Deutschland trotz einiger Fortschritte weiterhin in nahezu allen Dimensionen und bei vielen Indikatoren des neuen She-Figures-Index unter dem EU-Durchschnitt liegt, zum Teil sehr deutlich. Besondere Herausforderungen bestehen in der vertikalen und horizontalen Geschlechtersegregation sowie beim Gender Pay Gap. Auf Basis der Ergebnisse und theoretischer Konzepte werden strukturelle und kulturelle Erklärungsansätze diskutiert und es wird ein Ausblick auf weitere Forschung gegeben, zur Generierung eines umfassenden Kenntnisstandes zu Chancendisparitäten und seinen Ursachen im Wissenschaftssystem. Hierzu zählt etwa die Herausarbeitung von Unterschieden (z.B. in der Leaky Pipeline) nach Fachdisziplinen und institutionellen Kontexten" (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

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    Minding the gap(s): The uneven gendering of engineering and computing work across Europe (2025)

    Charles, Maria ;

    Zitatform

    Charles, Maria (2025): Minding the gap(s): The uneven gendering of engineering and computing work across Europe. In: International Journal of Comparative Sociology, S. 1-26. DOI:10.1177/00207152251372850

    Abstract

    "This study investigates variability across 31 European countries in the gender composition of engineering and computing (“tech”) occupations, and possible sociocultural drivers of this variability. As previously documented for other STEM domains and geographies, the largest tech gender gaps are in the most affluent societies of Europe (which are also most postmaterialist and gender-liberal culturally). Multilevel regression models explore key attitudinal and socioeconomic predictors of this gender segregation that have been identified through previous comparative research. Results show that men, but not women, who espouse postmaterialist values have higher odds of working in engineering or computing, and that the gender-specific effects of postmaterialist values account for a substantial share of cross-country variability. Findings are consistent with research suggesting a heightened salience of gender math stereotypes to career aspirations in societies that valorize individual self-expression and “doing what you love.”" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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