In the Scheme. Italian Academic Women between Teaching Duties and Research

Journal title SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO
Author/s Alessandra Minello, Concetta Russo
Publishing Year 2021 Issue 2021/160 Language Italian
Pages 22 P. 88-109 File size 262 KB
DOI 10.3280/SL2021-160005
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The academic labor is divided between researching, teaching and fulfilling admin-istrative tasks. After the Gelmini reform, research has gain a relevant weight for career advancement. According to the literature, women are more inclined to take on teaching and administrative tasks, due to a gender scheme which considers them as more suited to these tasks. They are less likely to reach top positions and achieve them at a slower pace. In this paper we explore the role of teaching tasks in the trajectories of a group of Italian female academics, investigating the paths of adaptation/resistance to the new rules of competition. Through fifteen qualita-tive interviews it emerges teaching is an anchoring element: our interviewees per-ceive the direct relationship with students as indispensable to the achievement of professional satisfaction, or they consider the investment in this area as a potential gateway to an academic career. Some have experienced pressing demands for ful-filling both teaching and administrative tasks.

Keywords: Gender, Academia, Research, Teaching

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Alessandra Minello, Concetta Russo, Dentro lo schema. Accademiche italiane tra ricerca e didattica in "SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO " 160/2021, pp 88-109, DOI: 10.3280/SL2021-160005