Are careers in biological anthropology sustainable?

Passalacqua, Nicholas V.

doi:10.1002/ajpa.23457

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…These results may reflect a common ideology that forensic anthropology is a mere application of biological anthropology methods and that anyone with any background in skeletal biology is competent to teach/practice forensic anthropology. However, as we have argued here and has been demonstrated through the qualifications and professionalization necessary to be a practicing forensic anthropologist, this assumption is incorrect (e.g., Christensen et al 2015;Christensen et al 2019;Dirkmaat 2012;Langley and Tersigni-Tarrant 2019;Passalacqua andPilloud 2018, 2020).…”

Section: Implications For Anthropology Programsmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…With the increasing interest in pursuing forensic anthropology as a career, it is not uncommon for forensic anthropology faculty members to caution undergraduate students that there are relatively few jobs in forensic anthropology and that it is a competitive career path that typically requires a doctoral degree in anthropology (as this is a requirement of ABFA certification). While Passalacqua (2018) examined the number of academic job postings for various biological-anthropology-focused disciplines, the number of qualified applicants seeking forensic anthropology positions is difficult to assess due to the confidential nature of job applications. Further, forensic anthropologists often lament (again, anecdotally) the frequency to which nonforensic anthropologists are hired for forensic anthropology academic job postings, which serves to suggest that forensic anthropologists may actually be less desired as colleagues.…”

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confidence: 99%

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The Value of Forensic Anthropology in Undergraduate Anthropology Programs

Passalacqua

Mulholland

Pilloud

et al. 2021

American Anthropologist

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Anecdotally, it has been suggested that undergraduate anthropology students are more interested in forensic anthropology than any other specialty but that forensic anthropologists are less desired as colleagues in academia due to the nature of their work. The goal of this project was to examine two related questions: Does having a forensic anthropologist, or an undergraduate concentration in forensic anthropology, increase the number of majors in anthropology programs? And are forensic anthropologists less likely to be hired for relevant biological anthropology academic positions? To address these questions, data from a number of sources were analyzed. Results found that academic programs with a forensic anthropology concentration had large increases in the overall number of anthropology majors and that programs with forensic anthropologists as faculty produced significantly more anthropology bachelor's degrees. These data are counter to the current national trend of declining anthropology degrees. For jobs in academia specifically desiring a forensic anthropologist, forensic anthropologists were hired in only 58 percent of postings. This study shows a reluctance to hire forensic anthropologists in academia despite their positive impact on the growth of anthropology programs; it also has implications for the education of future forensic anthropologists. [forensic anthropology, academia, enrollment, career, hiring]

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Section: Implications For Anthropology Programsmentioning

confidence: 86%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Value of Forensic Anthropology in Undergraduate Anthropology Programs

Passalacqua

Mulholland

Pilloud

et al. 2021

American Anthropologist

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…In 2008, white individuals made up 89.1% of university faculty, and in 2014, they accounted for 88.0% [12]. Further, in 2017, only approximately 11% of biological anthropologists identified as non-white [76]. White academics significantly overtook academics of color in all tenure-line positions (assistant, associate, and full).…”

Section: Early Career Barriersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behind the Velvet Rope: Exclusivity and Accessibility in Biological Anthropology

Tegtmeyer Hawke,

Hulse

2023

Humans

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Despite a growing focus on diversity initiatives in the field of anthropology, accessibility to advancement is growing further out of reach for many students and early career professionals. There has been a noticeable uptick in the cost of organization membership fees, the culmination of conference costs, and the cost of certifications. This stands in contrast to an increase in the number of lower-paid adjunct positions taking the place of associate and assistant professorships and the lack of permanent applied positions. For graduating and early career anthropologists, the prospect of thriving in a field that is becoming increasingly costly seems daunting. This paper will examine growing economic exclusivity within biological anthropology and suggest possible solutions to make the field more widely accessible.

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Are careers in biological anthropology sustainable?

Cited by 2 publications

References 16 publications

The Value of Forensic Anthropology in Undergraduate Anthropology Programs

The Value of Forensic Anthropology in Undergraduate Anthropology Programs

Behind the Velvet Rope: Exclusivity and Accessibility in Biological Anthropology

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