The Status of Women at Harvard - A Report
In 1970, Harvard University faced scrutiny for its lack of female representation in upper-level faculty and administration positions. Despite women comprising 25% of undergraduates and 22% of graduate students in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, they held only 4.6% of assistant professorships and no full professorships. This disparity led to a federal investigation under laws prohibiting sex discrimination by federal contractors, potentially jeopardizing Harvard's $60 million in federal funding. In response, Harvard's Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences appointed a six-member committee to explore increasing women's participation and addressing career challenges specific to women. The committee aimed to suggest structural changes, such as part-time positions and child-care centers, to accommodate women's unique needs and encourage their academic careers. Harvard's approach to senior faculty hiring, relying on recommendations from predominantly male faculty members, was also criticized. The report highlighted the need for proactive measures to promote gender equity, urging Harvard to follow the example of institutions like Princeton, which had appointed a special officer to oversee these efforts.| Creator |
Sarfaty, Mona
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| Publisher |
The Harvard Crimson
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| Date |
1970-06-11
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| Format |
Digital
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| Local URL |
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1970/6/11/the-status-of-women-at-harvard-a/
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| Tags | Administrative Response, Advocacy, Legal, Statistics |
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| Date Added | July 8, 2024 |
| Date Modifed | January 7, 2025 |
| Collection | Harvard and Gender Discrimination |