Staying, leaving, thriving: Gender and ethnic inequality in Dutch academia

Abstract

Although women and ethnic minorities are increasingly represented in Dutch higher education, their entry into and retention in scientific careers in the Netherlands is limited. Underrepresentation of these groups in science is widely recognized as a problem in news media and by academic institutions themselves. Yet, it remains largely unknown how gender and ethnic inequality in Dutch academia has come about, and what factors contribute to its development. This dissertation traces the career trajectories of several cohorts of researchers who obtained a PhD in the Netherlands to uncover how, when and where careers of academics diverge. The included studies relate to the broad themes of staying, leaving, and thriving in academia. Thus, this dissertation provides insight into questions such as: “Who stays in academia after completing a PhD?”, “How do salaries develop after academics leave the university?”, and “Who obtains a full professorship?”. Several potential mechanisms behind the development of unequal career paths are investigated, including scholars’ social networks, changing institutional contexts, and labor market dynamics. The studies show that the presence and magnitude of inequality in Dutch academia depends on the career stage, outcome, and selection of PhD cohorts under study. The susceptibility of inequality to institutional changes highlights a promising avenue for interventions aimed at promoting inclusion within universities and reducing disparities in academic careers