Women Archivists Roundtable
Women in the Archival Profession
Survey Results
Results
compiled by
Amy Cooper, Special Collections Librarian,
University of Iowa Libraries
E. Lee Eltzroth, Consultant
August, 2002
Introduction
In 2000 and 2001, the WAR Steering Committee and membership
devised a
survey
that sought to explore the relationship between women
archivists and their profession, highlighting the issues
critical to women archivists and proposing a statistical
analysis of those issues. Questions related to respondents'
work (including their geographic location, work "climate,"
professional activity, education, training and
responsibilities), and the balance of work and home
(flextime, child and elder care, professional and personal
leave), as well to working with "women's collections." The
questions were then compiled and reviewed by the Steering
Committee, and a final survey was established in August of
2001. The survey was completed by a total of 227 women
archivists. The following is a brief summary of some of the
survey's findings.
Geographical Distribution
The greatest number of respondents came from the US
Northeast (32.7%), the Midwest (23.3%), and the Southeast
(21.1%). In total, these three areas east of the Rockies
made up 77.1% of all respondents
Repository and Position
By far, the greatest representation was from the academic
sector (50.2%), followed by government workers (18.1%). Of
the respondents, the greatest majority held positions as
Professional Staff (69.6%) or Non-tenured faculty (13.2%).
The greatest majority of women reported their job title as
Archivist (53.2%), with 32% stating that their title was
"Other."
Position Status
87.2% of those surveyed reported that their positions were
full time with benefits, and 5.7% reported that their
position was part time with benefits. Fewer than 15
respondents reported receiving no benefits.
Tenure and Second Career
A majority of respondents (33.5%) have been in the
profession for 2-5 years, and 32.2% for more than 10
years. Of respondents, 52.4% stated that this was not a
second career choice. 44.9% stated that it was.
Education
Women archivists are a highly educated group, with most
possessing some combination of BA (97.2%), MA (63.6%) and
MLS (54.3%) degrees. Over 45% also have some archival
coursework and/or workshop or institute certificates.
SAA Involvement
Respondents were deeply involved in SAA, with 73% indicating
membership in the organization and many indicating other
forms of service. Only 10% indicated that they were members
of WAR or the Women's Collections Roundtable
Salary
Most salaries fell in a range between $30,000 and $50,000,
with the majority (36%) coming in between $30,000 and
$39,000. 30.2% of the salaries reported came in between
$40,000 and $49,000
Supervisors
Respondents reported that supervisors were 54.4% women, and
45.6% men
Working Hours
While only 15.2% of respondents believed that they worked
longer hours than their male colleagues, a majority of
respondents stated that they did put in some overtime. Only
24.1% respondents put in no overtime at all. 36.6% put in
between 2 - 7 hours per month, and 20.5% put in 8 - 12 hours
per month. 67.1% of respondents had some form of flextime to
compensate.
Conference Attendance
67% of respondents reported that conference attendance is a
factor in annual evaluation, and 42.9% reported that their
repository provides the entire amount of financial support
required for registration and travel to conferences and
workshops. Another 42% reported that their repository
provides some of the cost, and the rest is paid by the
attendee.
Professional Memberships
Almost 75% of respondents belong to SAA, and most belong to
other regional, state or local US archival associations in
addition.
Personal Issues
Respondents expressed a slightly higher desire to work part
time, with 53.1% responding that they would like to work
part time given the option. 96.8% of respondents believe
that stress is a significant factor for women in the
workplace.
Women's Collections
98.7% of respondents felt that unearthing women's history
continues to be important, yet only 77.1% make a concerted
effort to do so and only 61.9% of respondents actually work
with materials related specifically to women.
WAR pages maintained by Jennie Thomas
Last updated: 4 August 2008
|
