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6. The Future

It is apparent that inequalities have existed and continue to exist for all aspects pertaining to an academic career, ranging from educational opportunities, employment prospects, attainment of rank and tenure, and comparable salaries, as well as acceptance by the professional community as measured by publications and visibility. However, it is also clear that these disparities are decreasing overall and that real gains in narrowing the gap are being made.

Vetter (1987) and Homig (1987) both conclude that women's access to graduate education has improved, especially since 1970. Thus, more women will be qualified to enjoy a greater share of the academic positions. This means, in turn, that the critical mass theory (see Debold (1987)) comes more into play, whereby more women faculty, by their very presence can also serve as role models and mentors. Sandler (1986) gives a chilling account of the subtle forms of discrimination which persist on the university campus. Fortunately, as more women are appointed to faculty positions and to administrative ranks, many of these forms will perforce disappear. In the meantime, the Sandler report serves as a useful guide, delineating many of the markers which, if observed, can assist the woman faculty member towards her own successful career attainments.

Perhaps the best summary emphasizing the real progress that has been made is the following conclusion from Zuckerman (1987): ``... pertinent data, drawn from current studies, show three separate but interconnected patterns. First, there are persisting differences ... in role performance and career attainments ... (but) ... Second, there are signs of growing convergence ... in access to resources, research performance, and rewards -- that is, evidence for increasing gender similarity over the last decade and a half, especially between younger men and women. Third,... evidence for growing divergence ... in published productivity in some, but not all, aspects of career attainment ... .''

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