You can go to our
Newsletters.
Or search for a word here:
New Books
Tenure Denial, Discrimination, Harassment
This year the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Legal Advocacy Fund and AAUW Educational Foundation published Tenure Denied: Cases of Sex Discrimination in Academia. This short book draws on cases supported by AAUW to give an overview of sex discrimination in academe. It describes the general structure of many tenure cases, including the kind of consequences (both good and bad) that such cases can have on plaintiffs. A WAGE member who sued UC for sex discrimination said the account rang true to her. This book should be very useful-both for academics contemplating sex discrimination suits-and those wishing to avoid tenure denial or reduce sex discrimination. Available from AAUW (www.aauw.org or call 800-225-9995).
Sharyn Ann Lenhart's book Clinical Aspects of Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination (Brunner-Routledge, 2004) is addressed to a clinical audience and others (e.g., social workers and lawyers) concerned with those suffering from sexual harassment and other form of gender discrimination. However, anyone who has suffered from gender discrimination (and what woman hasn't?) may find this book helpful in reflecting on past experiences. A caution: There are many sad vignettes in this book. If you are in the middle of a difficult discrimination experience, this book may not be for you, but for your partner, spouse, friends, doctor, therapist, or lawyer.
The book begins with an overview of the work environment with respect to gender, defining terms such as "gender bias" and "sexual harassment." The next chapter gives an overview of legal issues with particular reference to clinicians, including discussion of clinicians as legal witnesses. The main part of the book is the effects and treatment of sexual harassment and gender discrimination on its targets, illustrated by short vignettes, some of which are examples from academe. Most of the effects discussed are psychological, but a wide variety of physical symptoms have been reported-from tooth grinding and disordered sleep to more severe problems.
Evaluating Sexual Harassment by William Foote and Jane Goodman-Delahunty (American Psychological Association, 2005) is directed toward the forensic psychologist who may testify in court, arbitration, or mediation about the effects of harassment and make recommendations for treatment. Like Lenhart's book, this book summarizes past psychologist research and relevant legal issues. Unlike Lenhart's book, it discusses the profiles of harassers and contexts of harassment. Although prevention is not its main focus, it does briefly discuss related issues and makes this interesting observation: "The data indicate that an organization's tolerance for sexual harassment is the most important variable in increasing the occurrence of sexual harassment" (p. 44). Two examples of psychological evaluation reports are given in the appendix.
A common theme in these three books is the importance of support from others. Harassment and discrimination are never pleasant, but their impact can be mitigated with the help of friends and colleagues. As a proactive measure, Tenure Denied recommends that female academics, "Cultivate friends, communities, and colleagues outside your department and outside academia. Should you eventually find yourself in a dispute over salary, promotion, or tenure, these non-academic sources of support will be especially sustaining and important." In the case of sexual harassment, the National Women's Law Center suggests:
Network with others. If you can, talk to others at work about the harassment.
If you may find witnesses, allies, or others that have been harassed by the
same person or are concerned and would be willing to help.
Tell supportive friends, family members, and colleagues about the abuse.
Telling others about the harassment not only can give you much needed
support, but it can also be important evidence later.
WAGE had its beginning in these kinds of actions. We have supported women with discrimination cases in many different ways, both large and small by hearing tales of academic wrongdoing, writing and mailing support committee newsletters, providing information about lawyers, bringing thermoses of soup to a plaintiff's deposition, and our presence in court.
Mobbing
People denied promotion in academe sometimes find that research on mobbing describes some of their experiences.
Mobbing-Emotional Abuse in the American Workplace by Noa Davenport, Ruth Distler Schwartz, and Gail Pursell Elliott (Civil Society Publishing, 2002). This book is said to discuss incidents at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. From chapter 1: "[Mobbing] begins when an individual becomes the target of disrespectful and harmful behavior. Through innuendo, rumors, and public discrediting, a hostile environment is created in which one individual gathers others to willingly, or unwillingly, participate in continuous malevolent actions to force a person out of the workplace."
Workplace Mobbing in Academe by Kenneth Westhues (Edwin Mellen Press, 2005). Also published on the author's Web site.
-wage@wage.org-