The British Journal of Sociology
Volume 55 No 2 June 2004
pages 187-210
Abstract
The career experience of men and women in British university sociology since 1950 is compared, using published data for the whole group and fresh data from a sample of departments. It is shown that, when like is compared with like, the outcomes for men and for women have not been as different as is often suggested; family reasons were more salient in women's careers, but in the end have not made much difference to their destinations. But the proportions of women recruited have varied over time, and the experience of both sexes has been strongly influenced by historical factors affecting different periods. Within the constraints which those have imposed, individuals have not all made the same choices, and that too has affected the outcomes.
Keywords: Academic careers, women in sociology, sociology departments, British sociology, history of sociology
Jennifer Platt
Department of Sociology, University of Sussex