RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 CLS to Higher Education Administrator: The Price They Paid
JF American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
JO Clin Lab Sci
FD American Society of Chemistry and Laboratory Science
SP 157
OP 165
DO 10.29074/ascls.23.3.157
VO 23
IS 3
A1 Campbell, Suzanne
A1 LaCost, Barbara Y.
YR 2010
UL http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/23/3/157.abstract
AB OBJECTIVES: To identify the barriers and/or obstacles these women experienced during their career paths as women clinical laboratory scientists who transitioned to higher education administration.To identify how being a woman influenced their careers as higher education administrators.METHODS: A multi-site case study design was selected for this qualitative research involving a purposive sample of eight research participants. Data collection was guided by ten open-ended questions in seven face-to-face and one telephone semi-formal interviews.SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: The purposive sample included women clinical laboratory scientists who held a current higher education administrative position at the dean's level, including associate and assistant dean positions, in a university setting. The participants were located in eight higher education institutions in Nebraska, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas.MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The price women pay, gender considerations, a need for balance, existence/absence of the glass ceiling for women in higher education administration.RESULTS: Making personal sacrifices, struggling with gender stereotypes, being a woman, knowing you are okay, and possessing the ability to separate the personal from the professional were identified by this group of women as challenging experiences as they obtained and maintained a position as a higher education administrator. Additionally, they described the need for balance, a support system, and how they successfully managed their marriage, family, and career. The participants presented conflicting statements concerning the existence of the glass ceiling for women in higher education administration.CONCLUSION: The participants in this study obtained positions in higher education administration but they indicated they have paid a price. Each of the participants indicated their obstacles included making a personal sacrifice, being treated differently because they were women, and needing to find a balance in their responsibilities related to their careers, marriages, and families. The majority of the participants believe there is a slight increase in the number of opportunities for women in higher education administration.