Setting the Stage: Broadly Considering Gender Constructions

Abstract

1 This chapter provides a portrait of the overrepresentation of women in community colleges and introduces contemporary research on men and masculinity to argue the need for more inclusive conceptualizations of gender issues.In 2008, I, Jaime, had the pleasure of editing a volume of New Directions for Community Colleges titled, "Gender Perspectives on Community College." The intent of that volume was to broaden the discussion of gender in community colleges to introduce new work related to men and masculinity, noninstructional staff, work-life balance, and women in science and engineering. The chapter authors laid out a complex interplay between gender, identity, organizational dynamics, and policy that often work in concert, although not intentionally, to create an environment that creates or supports structures that prevent gender equity. Importantly, many institutional structures and practices are not intended to create gender inequity (e.g., standardized hours, hiring practices, family, and medical leave benefits) but are representations and symptoms of the greater sociological beliefs and practices pervading American society, which are predicated upon the "ideal worker" 1 (Williams, 2000, p. 2). Yet, as the 2008 volume concluded, community colleges can and do work toward equity, because they are institutions built to support open access and to serve those who are often marginalized in American society.Fast forwarding to 2017, the purpose of this chapter is to engage recent research on women in community colleges and to broaden our collective understanding of how and why gender inequity continues. We begin with a presentation of the status of women in community colleges to highlight where gender inequities persist, despite an overall increase in the number of women in community colleges. Following is a review of the contemporary research on gender related to men and masculinity, identity, the intersection of multiple identities, and work-life balance. Each of these areas highlights the complex nature of how gender operates in organizations, specifically NEW DIRECTIONS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES, no. 179, Fall 2017