WOMEN ADMINISTRATORS: A TREND ANALYSIS OF THEIR CHARACTERISTICS IN FOUR FIELDS FROM 1950 TO 1980 (DEMOGRAPHIC)

The purpose of this descriptive study was to search, analyze, and synthesize the existing literature to develop profiles of women administrators in four professional fields, and to determine what changes may have occurred between 1950 and 1980 in their demographic characteristics. The four professional fields are public school administration, higher education administration, business administration, and public administration. Another aspect of the study was to compare changes, if any, in the demographic characteristics of the women executives among the four fields.;The findings indicated that by 1980 changes had occurred in the demographic characteristics of the women in all four professional fields of administration.;Women in public school administration were (a) making more frequent direct approaches to administrative positions, (b) advancing to administrative positions at a younger age, (c) increasing their academic preparation for administrative positions, (d) experiencing more varied administrative positions including entrance into areas traditionally male strongholds, and (e) more likely to be married or divorced.;Women in higher education administration were (a) making more direct and independent searches for executive positions, (b) experiencing a broader selection in type of institution they headed, (c) advancing to middle-level positions traditionally held by men, (d) increasing their academic preparation, (e) entering top executive positions at a slightly younger age, and (f) more likely to be married and to have small families.;Content analysis was used, with the unit of analysis being a given demographic characteristic. Quantification involved nominal measurement requiring the assignment of each demographic characteristic to proper category and time period.;Women in business administration were (a) gaining in academic preparation in traditionally male-dominated business fields, (b) gaining positions on boards of directors in businesses unrelated to family ties, (c) advancing to nontraditional middle-management positions in large corporations, and (d) more likely to come from middle-class backgrounds.;Women in public administration were (a) advancing to higher levels in the executive ranks of government by promotion or presidential appointment, (b) likely to be younger when they reached executive ranks, (c) increasing in academic preparation, and (d) more likely to be married.