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This brief examines the extent to which factors related to work-life balance may be pushing or pulling women of all races and ethnicities out of academic careers early in the academic career pathway. Although research citing statistical data on the underrepresentation of women of all races and ethnicities in STEM and in STEM faculty positions is prolific, there is little research examining the extent to which inequities may exist at the start of STEM degree recipients’ academic careers, and for graduates who are beginning their careers with family responsibilities. This brief examines the extent to which gender differences exist in the types of positions new STEM PhD recipients secure upon earning their degrees. Specifically, we examine whether recipients secured an academic (postdoc 1 or faculty 2 ) or nonacademic position and, among those with academic positions, whether the position is at a research or nonresearch institution. This brief also examines these gender differences by marital and parental status.
Key findings include the following:
-> Men were more likely than women to secure a position
upon earning their STEM PhDs, but among those with
secured positions, women were more likely than men to
begin their careers in academe.
-> At the same time, males were significantly more likely than
females to secure the more prestigious or difficult-to-obtain
academic position: faculty at a research university.
-> Being married and having children suggests a disadvantage
in securing a position at a research institution—for both
men and women.