Page 214 - Through the gate of the neoliberal academy • Herschberg

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of power and inequality that occur rapid and often unreflexive. The positional power of committee members decides who can deploy their power and who are forced into compliance with hiring decisions. As predominantly men hold a power position in (Dutch) academia, men can define situations as they see fit and push their own agendas forward, also when this involves championing their preferred (men) candidates.
To conclude, this dissertation provides a fine-grained analysis of how (gender) inequalities are (re)produced, in two academic disciplines and multiple countries, in a context where more diversity in academia is on the committees’ and the universities’ agenda. Even though a willingness to hire, for example, women candidates is voiced, my dissertation shows that the aspiring early-career women academics are negatively affected by gendered judgements in hiring committees and their decision-making. Knowledge on how the complexities of practicing inequality and power are played out might help to create awareness and reflexivity among hiring committee members (and management) and can contribute to more fair hiring practices.