Author

Penny Biles

Date of Award

2-1978

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Sociology

Supervisor

Jane Synge

Language

English

Abstract

This thesis is an exploratory case study that examines the roles of women and men in one type of work organization, a community college." As in many other organizations, women are to be found predominantly in the lower levels of the organization. We document the extent to which structural variables, such as hiring procedures, cognitive variables, such as perception of discrimination, and socialization variables, such as views on responsibility and promotion, may affect men and women in different ways.

We consider the three major groups in the organization -- administrators, faculty, and support staff -- separately. Our data are derived from a questionnaire survey and from interviews with a sample of men and women. While the pyramidal structure of the organization, with few high level-positions and many low level positions, is partly responsible for women's relatively poor advancement chances, our data show the importance of other structural, cognitive and socialization variables. We also explore the determinants of work satisfaction for men and women in the organization. We conclude that the structure of the organization and women's perceptions of their roles are not conducive to women's advancement. We also find that groups at similar levels in the organization tend to have similar views in many areas regardless of sex.

McMaster University Library


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