This study examined the developmental process of female faculty within the framework of the Levinson theory of adult development. Four stages of Levinson's model were selected for investigation because they included the ages most often found in the academic profession: The Age-Thirty Transition (ages 29-33), the Settling-Down Period (34-40), the Mid-Life Transition (41-45) and Entering Middle Adulthood (46-50). This study included 100 full-time female faculty employed at Stetson University, Rollins College and the University of Central Florida. / Since there was a paucity of literature on the developmental process for female faculty, literature on theories of adult development, female faculty, and theories of career development were examined. Themes of women's developmental process emerged form the literature review and included the importance of relationships, meaning of work, achievement, mentor relationships, and multiple role involvement. / The 100 participants were sent a questionnaire in order to obtain demographic data and information on their developmental process, both personal and professional. Additionally, interviews were conducted with five women in each age group. Demographic characteristics of the faculty participants were presented. Common developmental tasks that characterize each age stage were identified. Also, significant events in the lives of female faculty were identified that affected the developmental process. It was found that women experience most of the developmental tasks described by Levinson in his theory of adult development and that the developmental process continues through the life course for the ages of female faculty included in this study. Most female faculty had traditionally ordered career progressions and were pleased with their career choice. Significant personal and professional life events were found to affect the developmental process for female faculty and although more professional events were identified, personal events were found to have greater influence on the developmental process. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-06, Section: A, page: 1643. / Major Professor: David Leslie. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_78026 |
| Contributors | Kerr, Anne Broughton., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 259 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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