Barriers to Academic Advancement in Geography: Do Gender, Race, and Ethnicity Matter?

In recent decades, the number of women and underrepresented graduate students and faculty in the discipline of geography has increased, although gender and racial disparities among faculty at higher ranks persist. This article examines barriers to the advancement of women and underrepresented groups in geography that stem from challenges in the workplace and in the domestic sphere. The research uses the hostile obstacle course as a conceptual framework and mixed methods with secondary data on faculty status in the United States and a national survey of 424 U.S.-based faculty members of the American Association of Geographers. Results indicate that perceptions of and experiences with challenges to professional advancement include work-related barriers and domestic caregiving responsibilities that vary by gender and race. Additionally, women are 66 percent more likely than men to consider leaving their institutions, whereas faculty of color are 3.2 times more likely than their white counterparts to contemplate departure. In sum, although all faculty are affected by work and home factors, women and underrepresented groups tend to face additional and different challenges. The discussion concludes with recommendations that lead to more inclusive workplace climates and diversified institutional expectations.