Hur blev du professor? Karriärvägar och hinder för kvinnor i olika generationer

Abstract

Despite decades of policy efforts working for gender equality in universities, development has been slow. Research since many decades has increased our knowledge about gendered processes in academic organizations that seem to produce and reproduce inequality. Still, questions remain about women’s career trajectories in academic institutions in a life-span perspective. The general aim
of this study was to increase the knowledge about career trajectories in universities among women of different generations, including both obstacles and facilitating conditions. Furthermore, the aim was
to increase the understanding of interactions between gender, ethnicity and class background in career processes.
The study was based on ten interviews with women born between 1930 and 1960, being, or having been professors in different areas of social sciences. Based on a life-span analysis and interview data,
results revealed three patterns of career development. In the first pattern, the oldest interviewees were forced to take an early break in their career for family reasons and resume their careers later. The
second pattern consisted of younger women with a relatively straight career without any longer breaks. Problems with childcare could be solved, often with public day care centres. Furthermore,
both formal and informal career support was stronger in the 1980s, from the organisations and in private life. The third pattern revealed problems and delays in careers due to difficulties with research
grants and support for research. Hidden discrimination was reported by women in all generations. Women with an immigration background appeared to have met additional discrimination.