Gender Bias in Higher Education: Spanish Doctoral Dissertations in Mathematics Education
Publication type
journal article
Publication date
2016
Author(s)
Vallejo, M.
Torralbo, M.
Fernández-Cano, A.
Language
English
View point(s)
PhD Level
Discipline(s)
Abstract
This article reviews the results of a quantitative study that provides evidence of gender biases in relation to women in the field of Spanish mathematics education. For this purpose, doctoral dissertations produced in Spain and defended in Spanish universities between 1970 and 2014 were subjected to exhaustive analysis. Focusing on gender, the authorship, supervision, and evaluation of doctoral dissertations were used as explanatory variables. A prospective analysis of the variables was also carried out. The results reveal different situations depending on the above-mentioned dimensions. Specifically, a marked bias against women was detected in terms of the supervision and evaluation of doctoral dissertations, but not in terms of their authorship. This seems to suggest the existence of a glass ceiling that prevents women from gaining access to certain scientific fields and/or engaging in particular roles in the higher education setting, such as the supervision or evaluation of doctoral dissertations. © The Author(s) 2015.
Journal
Journal of Hispanic Higher Education
ISSN
1552-5716
Volume
15
Issue
3
Pagination
205-220