Women and Career Progression in the Academia: Taking Stock of the Doctorate Degrees of the University of Lagos Since 2009 Nnorom, Chinyere C. P. Department of Sociology, University of Lagos, Nigeria Abstract Although women are gradually closing the gap

Abstract

had consistently been fewer than men in higher ranking positions due to fewer women with doctorate degrees. Attainment of a doctorate degree is a prerequisite to promotions above Lecturer 1 in the University of Lagos (UNILAG). The requirement of publish or perish had been expanded to include no Ph.D. no promotion even when the papers required to get to the apex are complete. This paper reviews the number of doctorate degrees awarded by UNILAG in the past five years from 2009 to 2013- to assess the extent of the gap existing between the male and female in the profession. It complements the data with in-depth interviews conducted with women who are still struggling to obtain their doctorate degrees to appraise the constraints which they face. This is because to be promoted above the post of a Lecturer 1, an academic must not only have obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) degree, he/she is also expected to have a quantum of publications in the required combinations in what UNILAG has termed local and foreign journals. This paper found a disturbing asymmetry with respect to the margin between male and female Ph.D. graduates with the latter still in the minority. Considering the constraints faced by women both in the private and public sphere and flowing from the interviews with women academics that are pursuing their doctorate degree programmes, the paper made some suggestions. One of such is the provision of and/or creation of female TETFUND scholarships to give more opportunities for women in academia to close the ever increasing gap in the profession