Obstacles to Sustaining Diversity: Historical Context and Current Experiences of Underrepresented Minority Women and Men in Sociology and Economics

Abstract

White men predominate in the top ranks of the professorate, but recent efforts have attempted to decrease inequality and increase diversity in the academy by hiring more faculty, especially women of color. Have equality and diversity efforts worked or has negative departmental climate limited efforts to make diversity sustainable? Despite the long history of and many contributions by women of color (URC) as public intellectuals, activists, and founders of organizations to promote Blacks and Latino/a people, we find that much of their work is still marginalized and is not viewed as legitimate science. This treatment may lessen the ability to increase equality and sustain diversity in academic institutions. The paper tests whether URC women scholars are still experiencing inequalities in comparison to their male peers of color in two disciplines, that of sociology and economics. We include these two disciplines because of similarities in origin and of topics. First, we hypothesize that women of color have significantly more negative experiences in sociology and economics departments than do men of color, when other conditions are held constant. Second, we hypothesize that structural conditions, are related to experiential outcomes for these scholars. Third, we hypothesize that participation in minority-oriented organizations improves women of color’s experiences. Fourth, we hypothesize that interacting gender with participation in minority-oriented organizations, significantly improves women of color’s situation. The study results show that women of color continue to experience greater problems of access, marginality, inclusion, and harassment in sociology and economics departments. The sustainable development goals of achieving gender equality and increase educational opportunities cannot be achieve without addressing these inequities and inclusion issues.

Moving toward Sustainability: Rethinking Gender Structures in Education and Occupation Systems

“…In her article on underrepresented minority women in academia, Spalter-Roth [5] examines the concept of gender/race/ethnic diversity-an essential component of sustainability. Spalter-Roth uses data on PhD sociologists and economists to answer questions about equity.…”

Gender Diversity and Firms’ Sustainable Performance: Moderating Role of CEO Duality in Emerging Equity Market

“…With the passage of time, the presence of women on boards has had increasing consideration across the world and emerging economies [7][8][9]. In this regard, researchers and practitioners claim that one of the best ways to improve and increase sustainable performance in every organization is through a higher representation of women on boards [10,11]. It has been identified that firms should reflect society and operate with a different homogenous group of members or board of directors [12].…”