Abstract:

The #MeToo movement has started a worldwide debate on the matters of equality and diversity in general and not only directed the focus towards sexual harassment and violence, but also gender-based discrimination in general. The HEI sector is no exception in the matter and statistics demonstrate that men are still in the overwhelming majority of high-ranked academics and holders of high-level nonadministrative posts. The university community in Iceland (a country of 335 000 inhabitants that ranks no 1 on the Global Gender Gap Index as the most egalitarian country in the world) is no exception in terms of dealing with gender bias in terms of tenure-track academic posts, particularly in STEM. Recent studies demonstrate that women within the academia still need to deal with systematic gender-based discrimination in terms of tenure and promotions, whereas their work and efforts are not judged on equal basis as the work of their male counterparts. Previous research also indicate that female professors are more harshly criticised by students in teaching evaluations and they are more likely to experience harassment and discrimination than their male colleagues.

This paper reviews the #MeToo stories of Icelandic women within the academia. A closed Facebook page in October 2017, where they shared their stories of sexual and gender-based harassment and violence. By using discourse analysis, our findings indicate these stories provide strong indicators that women do not share the same level of respect and are more likely not to be taken seriously as experts in their field, due to their gender. Many of the stories described their works, words and opinions being ignored, both by their male colleagues and male students. Furthermore, female lecturers are more likely to be expected to be more lenient in terms of extending deadlines and to be more ,,understanding“ towards any difficulties that their students are facing. This demands more emotional labour and stress, which can negatively affect female professors‘ progress within the academia. With the growing ratio of women among university students, universities have the responsibility to demonstrate fairness and egalitarianism – not only through their study lines and syllabuses, but also by presenting students with diversity and gender equality among their staff and to be a role model for future managers and leaders in making efforts with systematic changes and policies to represent a high level of no-tolerance towards any kinds of discrimination within their ranks.

Keywords:

Higher education, gender equality, gender discrimination, #metoo, gender bias, tenure-track, emotional labour.