The gendered diversification of academic career paths in comparative perspective

Abstract : The aim of this chapter is to provide a general overview of the issues involved in studying the gendered precariousness of academic careers from a cross-national comparative perspective. In response to some of these challenges, the chapter is structured around two main sub-sections. First, using the typology of academic career models developed by Christine Musselin (2005), we discuss the characteristics of specific career models within a deceptively globalised academic labour market. Second, we demonstrate the insights to be gained from paying more attention to different forms of precarious employment, both within different academic career models and across biographical time-lines, before considering their potential implications from a gender equality and life-course perspective. In conclusion, we stress the need for the more systematic collection and analysis of longitudinal data on the gendered diversification of academic career paths in the contemporary context.