Prof Carol Mershon, Professor in the Department of Politics at the University of Virginia, Center for Global Health Faculty Fellow
“Women are often the products of unequal, gendered education before we reach higher education. As we enter higher education, we find relatively few mentors who are experienced (senior female academics) because in the past opportunities for female academics were more limited than they are today”, said Prof Carol Mershon when delivering a Public Lecture titled “Advancing Women in Research in Higher Education” at the University of Venda on 15 June 2016.
During the lecture, Professor Mershon, who was being hosted by the School of Human and Social Sciences, pointed out that one of the major challenges is the inequality between men and women in terms of academic careers. She indicated that “Women who have academic male partners tend to struggle, as the male partners think their careers come first and that of female partners come second. As women we struggle to master the time, energy and effort to devote to our academic research as we start from the inequalities often faced at home and move to the challenges we face at work”.
During the lecture which was mostly attended by female academics from the University of Venda, women were urged to reflect on the challenges which they are currently facing in terms of research in South Africa. “At the work place we often encounter what social psychologists call implicit bias, a bias against women in higher education that our male faculty colleagues, our students both female and male, may or may not intend to express openly or directly but nonetheless is expressed at work”, added Prof Mershon.
The lecture was also aimed at bringing unity amongst women so that they can assist each other in order to succeed academically.
Even though the lecture’s main focus was mostly on challenges faced by women researchers in higher education, solutions to the challenges were also proffered. One of the solutions suggested was collaboration in research. Women were urged to unite and assist each other when conducting research in order for them to succeed in the male-dominated industry. Professor Mershon also encouraged researchers to form reading groups to discuss scholarly works on a single or a few related themes. The choice of themes and the works to be discussed should be decided consensually by the members of the group and these could help each member of the reading group to prepare for the research that she or he intends to undertake.
Prof Mershon encouraged women to participate in conferences especially the ones about research and mentoring since women who participate in these conferences are even more successful than men who do not attend.
Prof Mershon is a Professor in the Department of Politics at the University of Virginia, and she serves as the 2015-2016 programme Director of the UVa CHARGE, and NSF ADVANCE programme that works to increase the participation of women in the natural and social sciences. Amongst other achievements, she received her PhD in Political Science with distinction, from Yale University and she is also a recipient of three NSF awards.
Issued by:
Department of Communications and Marketing
University of Venda
Tel: 015 962 8525
Date: 24 June 2016