Track: Women in Industry and Academia

Abstract

This paper explores the intricate relationship between gender equity and diversity in academia, arguing that these two goals are not mutually exclusive or independent, but rather intricately intertwined. While existing discourse on gender equity in academia focuses primarily on the obstacles women face within the academic system, and discussions on diversity in academia concentrate on barriers preventing underrepresented groups from entering academia, this study contends that an intersectional framework is crucial for understanding and addressing inequalities within academic institutions.

Drawing on the concept of intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989), our research applies process mining methodology (van der Aalst, 2016) to examine the inequalities prevalent among tenured academic staff in Israel. We collected data from university sites, encompassing approximately 400 tenure track members, and utilized the Celonis software to create a dashboard for comprehensive data analysis and visualization.

By mapping the composition of the academic workforce and their promotion processes based on intersecting factors such as gender, ethnicity, and nationality, our study offers unique insights and demonstrates the potential of digital humanities in the Israeli context. The application of process mining techniques combined with the use of the Celonis software enables a detailed review of the collected data, providing a comprehensive understanding of the power dynamics and obstacles hindering true and sustainable equality in academic institutions.

Building upon our prior research (Gigi, Nagar-Ron, Yehuda, and Razi, 2020), which highlighted the importance of intersectional analysis in understanding gender, ethnicity, and nationality dynamics among academic staff, we further expose the ethno-gendered and national-gendered nature of inequality. Additionally, our findings shed light on disparities in representation and advancement between first-tier academic institutions (universities) and second-tier ones (colleges).

This paper presents preliminary research findings and emphasizes the significance of employing an intersectional lens to comprehensively grasp the diverse power mechanisms and obstacles hindering true and sustainable equality within academic institutions. The insights garnered from this study, facilitated by the utilization of process mining and Celonis software, have implications for both researchers and policymakers, fostering a more nuanced understanding of gender equity and diversity and aiding in the development of effective strategies to promote equality in academia

This paper explores the intricate relationship between gender equity and diversity in academia, arguing that these two goals are not mutually exclusive or independent, but rather intricately intertwined. While existing discourse on gender equity in academia focuses primarily on the obstacles women face within the academic system, and discussions on diversity in academia concentrate on barriers preventing underrepresented groups from entering academia, this study contends that an intersectional framework is crucial for understanding and addressing inequalities within academic institutions.

Drawing on the concept of intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989), our research applies process mining methodology (van der Aalst, 2016) to examine the inequalities prevalent among tenured academic staff in Israel. We collected data from university sites, encompassing approximately 400 tenure track members, and utilized the Celonis software to create a dashboard for comprehensive data analysis and visualization.

By mapping the composition of the academic workforce and their promotion processes based on intersecting factors such as gender, ethnicity, and nationality, our study offers unique insights and demonstrates the potential of digital humanities in the Israeli context. The application of process mining techniques combined with the use of the Celonis software enables a detailed review of the collected data, providing a comprehensive understanding of the power dynamics and obstacles hindering true and sustainable equality in academic institutions.

Building upon our prior research (Gigi, Nagar-Ron, Yehuda, and Razi, 2020), which highlighted the importance of intersectional analysis in understanding gender, ethnicity, and nationality dynamics among academic staff, we further expose the ethno-gendered and national-gendered nature of inequality. Additionally, our findings shed light on disparities in representation and advancement between first-tier academic institutions (universities) and second-tier ones (colleges).

This paper presents preliminary research findings and emphasizes the significance of employing an intersectional lens to comprehensively grasp the diverse power mechanisms and obstacles hindering true and sustainable equality within academic institutions. The insights garnered from this study, facilitated by the utilization of process mining and Celonis software, have implications for both researchers and policymakers, fostering a more nuanced understanding of gender equity and diversity and aiding in the development of effective strategies to promote equality in academia.