Turning Chutes into Ladders for Women Faculty: A Review and Roadmap for Equity in Academia.

Michelle I Cardel, Emily Dhurandhar, Ceren Yarar-Fisher, Monica Foster, Bertha Hidalgo, Leslie A McClure, Sherry Pagoto, Nathanial Brown, Dori Pekmezi, Noha Sharafeldin, Amanda L Willig, Christine Angelini

Journal: Journal of women's health (2002) 2020;29(5):721-733

PMID: 32043918

Abstract

Despite significant progress in recent decades, the recruitment, advancement, and promotion of women in academia remain low. Women represent a large portion of the talent pool in academia, and receive >50% of all PhDs, but this has not yet translated into sustained representation in faculty and leadership positions. Research indicates that women encounter numerous "chutes" that remove them from academia or provide setbacks to promotion at all stages of their careers. These include the perception that women are less competent and their outputs of lesser quality, implicit bias in teaching evaluations and grant funding decisions, and lower citation rates. This review aims to (1) synthesize the "chutes" that impede the careers of women faculty, and (2) provide feasible recommendations, or "ladders" for addressing these issues at all career levels. Enacting policies that function as "ladders" rather than "chutes" for academic women is essential to even the playing field, achieve gender equity, and foster economic, societal, and cultural benefits of academia.

Address: Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics and Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.; Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.; Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.; Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.; Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut.; Department of Mathematics, Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania.; Department of Health Behavior, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.; Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.; Department of Medicine, Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.; Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Environmental School for Sustainable Infrastructure and the Environment (ESSIE), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Bant logo

© Copyright 2026, Nutrition Evidence

NED wishes to thank the following organisations for their support:

We use cookies to improve your experience and analyze site traffic with Google Analytics. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more.