Review of: Anita Engels, Sandra Beaufaÿs, Nadine V. Kegen, Stephanie Zuber: Bestenauswahl und Ungleichheit. Eine soziologische Studie zu Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern in der Exzellenzinitiative. Frankfurt am Main u.a.: Campus Verlag 2015.

Abstract

This book by Anita Engels, Sandra Beaufaÿs, Nadine V. Kegen and Stephanie Zuber assembles the findings of an accompanying research program concerning gender (in)equality in the German ‘Initiative for Excellence’. Based on an impressive array of research methods and theories (the latter unfortunately dealt only briefly with) the authors present inspiring substudies e.g. about living and labor conditions of the members of institutions of excellence, about their networking and publishing, and executive positions, as well as about concepts of gender equality at the universities involved. All of these concepts aim at analyzing whether the underrepresentation of female academics in top positions is being reduced or reproduced. Regrettably though, little regard is given to the organizational perspective.