Gender and the Dual Career Academic Couple

In an effort to map the shape of the dual career challenge, the Clayman Institute for Research on Gender at Stanford University did a survey of 30,000 faculty at 13 universities. The study was headed by Londa Schiebinger, Andrea Henderson, and Shannon Gilmartin. When academics use the phrase “dual career,” they’re referring to the tendency of academics to marry other academics, making the job hunt fraught with trouble. Most institutions are not keen to hire someone’s partner just because they exist. Meanwhile, the academic job market is tough; it’s difficult to get just one job, let alone two within a reasonable commute of one another. So, what did the researchers find? More than a third of professors are partnered with another professor.