[This is an invited blog post by Anca Gheaus.--ES]
Male-only-invite philosophy conferences occur frequently in Germany (recall this discussion). The right thing to do is to contact organisers and, if need be, point out women who have been doing good work in the respective field. There may also be a case for male invited speakers to lobby for the inclusion of (more) women as invited speakers (see the petition initiated, in part, here at NewAPPS). Depending on the particular academic environment where the conferences happens, this can lead to an environment more accommodating to women. Due to the structural problems with the German academy, the beneficial results of gendered conference campaigns are likely to be limited to the expressive value of having women amongst speakers. This is, by itself, a lot.
The standard academic career in Germany is not tenure track. Usually the only academics with permanent jobs are a limited number of full professors. Moreover, the law restricts the length of cumulative temporary contracts to 6 years. So most academics are in very insecure jobs, with a low probability of survival in academia. If and when they get a professorship, however, they become unusually powerful, resourceful, independent and well off in terms of prestige relative to professors in other countries.
What does this have to do with gender? Probably a lot, but here are two salient factors: first, one obviously has very little power unless one is a professor; indeed, having a precarious job puts one at risk of abuse. Powerful, prestigious jobs are dominated by men - and they are the vast majority amongst German university professors. Second, on average in Germany one gets a professorship around the age of 42. So, most women in the German academy are probably in precarious jobs, with high likelihood of eventually having to exit academic life by the time when having a biological child is a real gamble.This is a strong incentive to quit early. It is difficult to see how these things can change unless the structure of academic jobs changes.
Similar problems affect women academics in other countries. The case of Germany is special not only because of the magnitude of the problems but also because they are entrenched by the job structure and legislation on temporary contracts. I'm very curious to know what other people think.
For an overview in English of the academic career structure in Germany see here:
Similar problems affect women academics in other countries. The case of Germany is special not only because of the magnitude of the problems but also because they are entrenched by the job structure and legislation on temporary contracts. I'm very curious to know what other people think.
For an overview in English of the academic career structure in Germany see here:
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