Sociology, Department of

 

Date of this Version

2010

Comments

A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts, Major: Sociology, Under the Supervision of Professors Christina D. Falci and Kristen M. Olson. Lincoln, Nebraska: May, 2010 Copyright 2010 Megumi Watanabe

Abstract

Using data on 137 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) faculty working at a research intensive Midwestern University, this study explores whether gender and race variation in network (connections to other faculty within one’s primary department) and work-life (family-friendly work climate and satisfaction with work-life balance) integration can explain gender and race variation in job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Results indicate that job satisfaction did not significantly vary by gender or race. Women, however, were less likely to say they intend to remain at their current institution. Compared to men, women had lower levels of integration in the departmental friendship network, worked at the University for a shorter period of time, and were more likely to be unmarried. Size of friendship networks and years at the institution were positively correlated with organizational commitment while being unmarried was negatively correlated with organizational commitment. Thus, these three factors explained the gender differences in organizational commitment. Network integration in research networks and work-life integration did not predict organizational commitment and did not vary by gender. The significant differences in organizational commitment between white and nonwhite faculty remain unexplained as network and work-life integration did not vary by race.

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