Abstract

The unequal distribution of unpaid care work in the household and the underrepresentation of women in academia are two key societal issues. Women assume a disproportionately large share of unpaid work, which impairs their participation in the labor market, their income and their mental health. Academia likewise reflects gender inequalities, whereby women are typically especially underrepresented in influential positions. Despite apparently fair and nondiscriminatory competition mechanisms in academia, women have thus far not been able to catch up with men’s success. The significant advancements that women have made in the labor market in the last decades have also not substantially increased equitable distribution of care work. This indicates that in both cases more fundamental mechanisms are at play. Factors such as social norms and gender roles continue to have considerable influence on success in academic careers and the distribution of care work. This dissertation project uses the possibilities afforded by computer-based models to better understand the connections between different factors. Through the simulation of theoretical scenarios, the causes of gender disparities will be identified, and it will be shown where interventions can effectively facilitate change.

Affiliation: Graz Schumpeter Centre

Supervisor: Ao.Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Christian Gehrke