3 - Academic Freedom and Dual Career Academic Couples: The Complexities of Being a Woman Academic in the University Space
Corresponding Author(s) : Chinyere Ukpokolo
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2010): Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Abstract
This study focuses on dual career women academics in a higher education (HE) institution in Nigeria. It explores the experiences of some of these women academics and exposes the internal dynamics that characterize intra-group interactions in the academe. It subsequently raises the issue of equitable participation of men and women academics in HE institutions in Africa. It attempts to understand how the constructed identities of dual career women academics intersect with their interactions in the university space, and im- pact on their career experiences. Paying attention to the marital institution also, this study explores how these women’s academic freedom can be un- dermined by the power play in this arena, bearing in mind their categoriza- tion. The study thus identifies the areas in which the autonomy and aca- demic freedom of women academics in dual career marriages are possibly undermined. Ethnographic methods provided data for this study. The article concludes that the challenge of academic freedom demands more inward examination of the ‘micro politics within’ in order to incorporate the interests of all stakeholders within the intellectual community in the struggle for aca- demic freedom and academic democracy in the continent of Africa.
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- Bagilhole, B., 2007, ‘Challenging Women in the Male Academy: Think about Draining the Swamp – Women are Challenged in the Academy’, in Challenges and Negotiations for Women in Higher Education, Cotterill, Pamela, Sue Jackson, and Gayle Letherby, eds., London: Springer, pp. 21 - 32.
- Bird, G.W. and G.A. Bird, 1987, ‘In Pursuit of Academic Careers: Observations and Reflections of a Dual-Career Couple’, Family Relations, Vol. 36, No. 1, January, pp. 97–100.
- Chanana, K., 2003, ‘Visibility, Gender and the Careers of Women Faculty in an Indiana University’, McGill Journal of Education, Vol. 38, No. 3, Fall, pp. 81 -390.
- Diaw, A., 2007, ‘Sewing Machines and Computers? Seeing Gender in Institutional and Intellectual Cultures at Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal’, Feminist Africa: Rethinking Universities II, Issue 9, December, pp. 5 - 17
- Fashina, O.M., 2000, ‘Academic Freedom and Female Academic in Nigeria’, Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA, pp. 121 - 127.
- Hodson, R., and T. A. Sullivan, 2002, The Social Organization of Work, California: Wadsworth.
- Mama, A., 2003, ‘Restore, Reform but Do not Transform: The Gender Politics of Higher Education in Africa, Journal of Higher Education in Africa, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 103 - 125.
- Mbow, P., 2000, ‘Academic Freedom and the Gender Issue: Report from Senegal’, Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA Book, pp. 64–78.
- Morley, L., 2003, ‘Sounds, Silences and Contradictions: Gender Equity in Commonwealth Higher Education’, Clare Burton Memorial Lecture, 2003.
- Odejide, A. 2007, ‘What can a Woman Do? Being Women in a Nigeria University’, Feminist Africa: Rethinking Universities I, Issue 8, September, pp.42 - 59.
- Odejide, A., Akanji, B. and Odekunle, K., 2006, ‘Does Expansion mean Inclusion in Nigerian Higher Education?’, Women’s Studies International Forum, Doi:10.1016/ j.wsif.2006.10.006
- Ouendji, N. N., 2000, ‘Academic Freedom and the Position of Women in Cameroon’, Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA, pp. 128 -154.
- Pereira, C., 2007, Gender in the Making of the Nigerian University System, Ibadan: Heinemann.
- Quina, K., Corter, M. and Romenesko, K., 1998, ‘Breaking the (Plexi-)Glass Ceiling in Higher Education’, in Collins, Lynn H., Joan, C. Chrisler, Kathryn Quina, eds., Career Strategies for Women Academe: Arming Athena, London: Sage Publications, pp. 215 - 245.
- Radhakrishnan, P., 2008, ‘Academic Freedom from a Human Rights’ Perspective: The Indian Case and its Relevance to Africa’, Journal of Higher Education in Africa, vol. 6, nos. 2 & 3, pp. 183 - 210.
- Ropers-Huilman, B., 2008, ‘Women Faculty and the Dance of Identities: Constructing Self and Privilege within Community’, Unfinished Agendas: New and Continuing Gender Challenges in Higher Education, Glazer-Raymo, Judith, ed., Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 35 - 51.
- Rusconi, A., 2002, ‘Academic dual-career couples in the US’, Review of North American Social Research, Junge Akademie January.
- Sall, E., 2000, ‘Introduction: Engendering Academic Freedom in Africa’, in E. Sall, ed., Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA, pp. ix -xix.
- Schiebinger, L., Henderson A.D. and Gilmartin, S.K., 2008, ‘Dual Career Academic Couples: What the University needs to Know’, Michelle R. Clayman Institute for GenderResearch, Stanford University.
- Sowunmi, M.A., 2009, Women’s Ordination as Priests: A Biblical Challenge and Imperative, Ibadan: Book Builders.
- Stets, E.J. and Burke, P.J., 2002, ‘A Sociological Approach to Self Identity’, in Leary,M.R. Leary and J.P. Tangney, eds., Handbook of Self and Identity, London: Guildford Press, pp. 128-152.
- Tamale, S. and Oloka-Onyango, J., 2000, ‘“Bitches” at the Academy: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa’, Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa, Sall, Ebrima, ed., Dakar: CODESRIA, pp. 1-23.
- Terosky, A., Phifer, T. and Neumann, A., 2008, ‘Shattering the Plexiglas: Continuing Challenges for Women Professors in Research Universities’, Unfinished Agendas: New and Continuing Gender Challenges in Higher Education, J. Glazer-Raymo, ed., Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 52 - 79. The Kampala Declaration on Academic Freedom and Social Responsibility, November, 1990.
- Ukpokolo, C., 2009, ‘Career Paths of Women Academics in a Nigerian University’, Research Project submitted to CODESRIA as part of the Gender Institute 2009 Research Project, titled ‘Gender in Higher Education in Africa’.
- Willot, C., 2009, ‘“Get to the Bridge and I will Help you to Cross”: Merit, Personal Connections and Money as Routes to Success in Nigerian Higher Education’, Bath Papers in International Development, No. 6, August 2009, Working Paper Series of the Centre for Development Studies at the University of Bath.
References
Bagilhole, B., 2007, ‘Challenging Women in the Male Academy: Think about Draining the Swamp – Women are Challenged in the Academy’, in Challenges and Negotiations for Women in Higher Education, Cotterill, Pamela, Sue Jackson, and Gayle Letherby, eds., London: Springer, pp. 21 - 32.
Bird, G.W. and G.A. Bird, 1987, ‘In Pursuit of Academic Careers: Observations and Reflections of a Dual-Career Couple’, Family Relations, Vol. 36, No. 1, January, pp. 97–100.
Chanana, K., 2003, ‘Visibility, Gender and the Careers of Women Faculty in an Indiana University’, McGill Journal of Education, Vol. 38, No. 3, Fall, pp. 81 -390.
Diaw, A., 2007, ‘Sewing Machines and Computers? Seeing Gender in Institutional and Intellectual Cultures at Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal’, Feminist Africa: Rethinking Universities II, Issue 9, December, pp. 5 - 17
Fashina, O.M., 2000, ‘Academic Freedom and Female Academic in Nigeria’, Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA, pp. 121 - 127.
Hodson, R., and T. A. Sullivan, 2002, The Social Organization of Work, California: Wadsworth.
Mama, A., 2003, ‘Restore, Reform but Do not Transform: The Gender Politics of Higher Education in Africa, Journal of Higher Education in Africa, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 103 - 125.
Mbow, P., 2000, ‘Academic Freedom and the Gender Issue: Report from Senegal’, Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA Book, pp. 64–78.
Morley, L., 2003, ‘Sounds, Silences and Contradictions: Gender Equity in Commonwealth Higher Education’, Clare Burton Memorial Lecture, 2003.
Odejide, A. 2007, ‘What can a Woman Do? Being Women in a Nigeria University’, Feminist Africa: Rethinking Universities I, Issue 8, September, pp.42 - 59.
Odejide, A., Akanji, B. and Odekunle, K., 2006, ‘Does Expansion mean Inclusion in Nigerian Higher Education?’, Women’s Studies International Forum, Doi:10.1016/ j.wsif.2006.10.006
Ouendji, N. N., 2000, ‘Academic Freedom and the Position of Women in Cameroon’, Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA, pp. 128 -154.
Pereira, C., 2007, Gender in the Making of the Nigerian University System, Ibadan: Heinemann.
Quina, K., Corter, M. and Romenesko, K., 1998, ‘Breaking the (Plexi-)Glass Ceiling in Higher Education’, in Collins, Lynn H., Joan, C. Chrisler, Kathryn Quina, eds., Career Strategies for Women Academe: Arming Athena, London: Sage Publications, pp. 215 - 245.
Radhakrishnan, P., 2008, ‘Academic Freedom from a Human Rights’ Perspective: The Indian Case and its Relevance to Africa’, Journal of Higher Education in Africa, vol. 6, nos. 2 & 3, pp. 183 - 210.
Ropers-Huilman, B., 2008, ‘Women Faculty and the Dance of Identities: Constructing Self and Privilege within Community’, Unfinished Agendas: New and Continuing Gender Challenges in Higher Education, Glazer-Raymo, Judith, ed., Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 35 - 51.
Rusconi, A., 2002, ‘Academic dual-career couples in the US’, Review of North American Social Research, Junge Akademie January.
Sall, E., 2000, ‘Introduction: Engendering Academic Freedom in Africa’, in E. Sall, ed., Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA, pp. ix -xix.
Schiebinger, L., Henderson A.D. and Gilmartin, S.K., 2008, ‘Dual Career Academic Couples: What the University needs to Know’, Michelle R. Clayman Institute for GenderResearch, Stanford University.
Sowunmi, M.A., 2009, Women’s Ordination as Priests: A Biblical Challenge and Imperative, Ibadan: Book Builders.
Stets, E.J. and Burke, P.J., 2002, ‘A Sociological Approach to Self Identity’, in Leary,M.R. Leary and J.P. Tangney, eds., Handbook of Self and Identity, London: Guildford Press, pp. 128-152.
Tamale, S. and Oloka-Onyango, J., 2000, ‘“Bitches” at the Academy: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa’, Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa, Sall, Ebrima, ed., Dakar: CODESRIA, pp. 1-23.
Terosky, A., Phifer, T. and Neumann, A., 2008, ‘Shattering the Plexiglas: Continuing Challenges for Women Professors in Research Universities’, Unfinished Agendas: New and Continuing Gender Challenges in Higher Education, J. Glazer-Raymo, ed., Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 52 - 79. The Kampala Declaration on Academic Freedom and Social Responsibility, November, 1990.
Ukpokolo, C., 2009, ‘Career Paths of Women Academics in a Nigerian University’, Research Project submitted to CODESRIA as part of the Gender Institute 2009 Research Project, titled ‘Gender in Higher Education in Africa’.
Willot, C., 2009, ‘“Get to the Bridge and I will Help you to Cross”: Merit, Personal Connections and Money as Routes to Success in Nigerian Higher Education’, Bath Papers in International Development, No. 6, August 2009, Working Paper Series of the Centre for Development Studies at the University of Bath.