Sex Segregation in Librarianship: Demographic and Career Patterns of Academic Library Administrators

This incisive work is a detailed examination of intraoccupational sex segregation in librarianship. Irvine examines the demographic and career characteristics of male and female library administrators. She explores why women have struggled so long for the status and recognition so easily achieved by their male counterparts. Included are data on the educational and occupational achievements of parents and spouses, the educational background of male and female librarians, and their professional affiliations and activities. Their career history is considered with regard to mobility patterns, middle management and executive positions, and mentorship and role models. The author also examines related research on women and men in higher education and corporate management. Irvine concludes that historically the role models for managerial positions have not favored women but that a significant change has occurred during the last decade.