The Plight of the Woman Doctoral Student 1

Abstract

Utilizing data from the 1969 ACE-Carnegie higher education survey, the present study investigated factors underlying discrimination against woman doctoral students. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were used to identify factors related to reports of experiencing emotional strain and doubts about completion of graduate work. Analyses revealed that faculty attitudes and behaviors toward woman doctoral students contributed significantly to their emotional stresses and self-doubts. Interaction with faculty, while related to general satisfaction with graduate school for both men and women doctoral students, revealed a bias in favor of men. Recommendations to remedy sex discrimination in doctoral programs are briefly presented.