TY - JOUR

T1 - Reasons for Leaving the Academy

T2 - a Case Study on the ‘Opt Out’ Phenomenon among Younger Female Researchers

AU - Nielsen, Mathias Wullum

PY - 2017/3/1

Y1 - 2017/3/1

N2 - This study provides a contemporary case for exploring the assumed ‘opt out’ phenomenon among early-career female researchers. Based on rich data from a Danish case study, we adopt an integrated, holistic perspective on women's reasons for leaving the academy. We propose the concept of ‘adaptive decision-making’ as a useful analytical starting point for synthesizing structure- and agency-centred perspectives on academic career choices. Our study provides new insights into the myriad of structural and cultural conditions circumscribing the career ambitions and expectations of younger female (and male) researchers, at a critical transition point epitomized by high demands for scholarly productivity, international mobility and accumulation of social capital. Located within the context of Danish higher education, our study also adds to the current discussion of why academic gender stratifications persist in a country renowned for its leading international position on issues of societal gender equality.

AB - This study provides a contemporary case for exploring the assumed ‘opt out’ phenomenon among early-career female researchers. Based on rich data from a Danish case study, we adopt an integrated, holistic perspective on women's reasons for leaving the academy. We propose the concept of ‘adaptive decision-making’ as a useful analytical starting point for synthesizing structure- and agency-centred perspectives on academic career choices. Our study provides new insights into the myriad of structural and cultural conditions circumscribing the career ambitions and expectations of younger female (and male) researchers, at a critical transition point epitomized by high demands for scholarly productivity, international mobility and accumulation of social capital. Located within the context of Danish higher education, our study also adds to the current discussion of why academic gender stratifications persist in a country renowned for its leading international position on issues of societal gender equality.

KW - academic career

KW - early career

KW - gender

KW - pluralist methodology

KW - university

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84989282791&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/gwao.12151

DO - 10.1111/gwao.12151

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84989282791

VL - 24

SP - 134

EP - 155

JO - Gender, Work and Organization

JF - Gender, Work and Organization

SN - 0968-6673

IS - 2

ER -