Women discuss challenges and rewards of being professionals
April 6, 2005
A panel of five women discussed the rewards and challenges they faced when entering male-dominated careers, specifically academia.
Women are still faced with a tough reality, as they will most likely be treated different than men in the work force, said Alicia Carriquiry, professor of statistics. Some universities and companies will only hire women employees so they do not look bad, she said.
“Sure, hire me for the wrong reasons, but keep me for the right ones, at least,” Carriquiry said.
This creates a two-fold advantage and disadvantage, because once women are hired, they are often discriminated against. Catherine Kling, professor of economics, was one of the five panelists who attested to being discriminated against at one point in her career.
“Have I ever benefited in my career by being a woman? Yes,” Kling said. “But have I ever been discriminated against because I’m a woman? Yes.”
Another challenge women faculty face is trying to find the right balance between life and work.
“I prefer the term work-life navigation,” said Sue Hoover, director of customer and brand strategy at Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. “It is more of an issue to manage time wisely because you rarely get a 50/50 balance.”
A concern for women pursuing doctorate degrees can be having a baby and maintaining a family.
Achieving tenure also does not align well with a woman’s biological clock, Carriquiry said.
“Universities like to hire people who will succeed quickly and rise fast in order to create money and get grants,” she said. “Having to take time off for pregnancy can slow that process down.”
Each of the panel members had different experiences in a male-dominated environment and gave different pieces of advice for aspiring undergraduate and graduate students attending the discussion.
The consensus was to speak one’s mind when facing discrimination, learn to be flexible and never give up.
The audience consisted primarily of female graduate students and young professionals, and the only males were the speakers’ husbands, who had a laugh once in a while.
“I’m pretty sure Iowa State only hired me so they could keep my husband working here as well,” Carriquiry said. “But now I am proud to say there are a lot more women in my department.”
The true test now, Hoover said, is learning how to deal with being “one among the few.”
“More and more women are choosing non-traditional careers, so it’s good for students to find out firsthand from people in those careers some of the rewards and challenges they may face,” said Judith Strand, program coordinator in economics.