Women's Center

Women’s Research Network sessions are held in
The Women’s Center, 107 Hanna Hall

Salary Differentials in Academia:  Does Gender Still Matter?
Date:  Friday, January 18, 2013, 1-2:30 pm*
Presenters:  Dr. Mary Ellen Benedict and Dr. Katharine W. Kontak, Economics

The gender gap in salary in academia was studied extensively in the 1980s and early 1990s, when the gap was large and women suffered substantial pay differentials.  Part of the problem at the time was the lower percentage of women in academia, particularly in many of the disciplines paying higher than average academic salaries.  Today, however, more women are receiving doctoral degrees and in disciplines traditionally considered “male.”  So, why do female academicians still earn 80¢ on average for every $1.00 their male counterparts earn? 

This study investigates the problem using the National Survey of College Graduates data and typical methodology related to pay differentials.  The once-in-a-decade data set is unique in that is contains detailed information about major course of study, academic discipline, and measure of productivity associated with academia.

Officer-Involved Domestic Violence:  What the Research Shows
Date:  Friday, February 8, 2013, 1-2:30 pm*
Presenter:  Dr. Philip M. Stinson, Criminal Justice

Police officers perform the lead role in the fight against domestic violence, but the occurrence of officer-involved domestic violence (OIDV) has the potential to undermine public trust and confidence in both the profession and system of justice that relies on them to enforce domestic violence laws.  The problem of OIDV is deeply entangled with the police subculture of violence and the socialization of police officers, as well as spillover from work.  Victims of OIDV are an underserved population who often do not receive support/services and must always consider that their perpetrators possess and are trained to use weapons.  

Dr. Stinson is the principal investigator on the multi-year research project Police Integrity Lost: A Study of Law Enforcement Officers Arrested, 2005-2011, which is funded by the National Institute of Justice at the U.S. Department of Justice.  In this presentation, he will discuss his research on police crime, and specifically two recently published articles: "Fox in the Henhouse: A Study of Police Officers Arrested for Crimes Associated with Domestic and/or Family Violence and Off-Duty" and "Under Arrest: A Study of Crimes Perpetrated by Off-Duty Police."  

CyberFeminist Digital Ethos:  Female Veterans on the Web
Date:  Friday, April 5, 2013, 1-2:30 pm*
Presenter:  Mariana Grohowski, Ph.D Student, Rhetoric and Writing

Media coverage of female veterans and servicewomen in the U.S. Armed Forces is dominated by discouraging statistics.  Although female veterans often are portrayed by the media as victimized and agentless, research on digital practices of female veterans shows that they possess greater agency than popular stereotypes give them credit for.

The researcher will share her empirical research about female veterans' use of the internet and wireless communication technologies to connect with others for outreach, activist, and informative purposes.  She will discuss female veterans’ “digital ethos,” which fosters positive social change on veteran’s issues.  Via a cyberfeminist methodology, the presenter will argue that research in the area of female veteran's digital ethos is needed to more accurately understand how to meet the demands of this emerging population in society and in higher education, as female veterans are an emerging population transitioning into post-secondary education after military service. 

*Please note the new times for this semester's Women's Research Network events.

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Women’s Research Network sessions are held in
The Women’s Center, 107 Hanna Hall