| The purpose of this study was to determine whether a recommended methodology for determining the disparity between woman's salary levels and those of men in the librarian professorate in an academic library setting could be developed based on a recommended methodology widely used in academe, the Scott (1977) study. A multivariate linear regression technique was tested using data gathered from the five largest public, state-supported academic libraries in Illinois. Five predictor models were tested for two comparison groups. Two types of analyses were done, a negative (−) residual analysis and an empirical analysis of the five predictor models. Based on the findings, it appears it is possible to create a recommended methodology for determining the disparity between women's salary levels and those of men in the librarian professorate which is cost effective for academic libraries to use. The findings also uncovered a new research problem to be considered, explored, and explained. Gender-based wage disparities persisted in the librarian professorate studied, in spite of the fact that the professional group was female dominated and the women in the groups studied participated, as other members of the group, in making recommendations on salary increases. Based on these findings it was suggested for female-dominated professions, gender-based wage discrimination may be more complex than previously thought and multi-layered. Both the female-dominated group as a whole and females within the same female-dominated group may be experiencing gender-based wage discrimination. It was concluded, for female-dominated professions to adequately correct for gender-based wage disparities, it was necessary to address gender-based wage disparities caused between groups as well as between individuals within a group. |
