Assessment of the Chilly College Climate for Women

Perceptions of a Chilly Climate: Differences in Traditional and Non-traditional Majors for Women

“…Further, women have been found to perceive the climate to be chillier than men, minorities perceived the climate to be chillier than non-minorities, and students who had been in school longer perceived the climate to be chillier than other students (J anz & Pyke, 2000). Studies claiming to refute the existence of the chilly climate have focused only on the classroom climate rather than the campus climate as a whole (Constantinople et al, 1988;Crawford & MacLeod, 1990;Drew & Work, 1998;Heller et al, 1985). While these studies did document that women participated in class less than men, they did not explain this phenomenon.…”

“…Although several authors investigating the chilly climate found no evidence of its existence (Constantinople et al, 1988;Crawford & MacLeod, 1990;Drew & Work, 1998;Heller et al, 1985), these studies focused on specific aspects of the classroom environment. In an observational study of college classrooms, Constantinople et al…”

“…The stated purpose of the chilly climate study by Heller et al (1985) was to give women an opportunity to anonymously indicate the extent to which they perceived that faculty engaged in any of the behaviors described in Hall and Sandler's (1982) Results indicated no differences between men and women in any of the faculty behaviors identified by Hall and Sandler (1982) as contributing to the chilly academic climate. The only statistically significant difference was found in the opposite direction, that women perceived less faculty use of sexual humor than men did.…”

“…Some researchers have found evidence of a chilly campus climate for women (Janz & Pyke, 2000;Pascarella et al, 1997;Whitt, Nora, Edison, Terenzini, & Pascarella, 1999), but others have not (Constantinople, Cornelius, & Gray, 1988;Crawford & MacLeod, 1990;Drew & Work, 1998;Heller et al, 1985). While some researchers focused exclusively on the classroom environment (Constantinople et al, 1988;Crawford & MacLeod, 1990;Heller et al, 1985), others have included the campus environment as well (Drew & Work, 1998;Janz & Pyke, 2000;Pascarella et al, 1997;Whittet al, 1999). All research cited in this section of the literature review specifically stated the focus of the study was the chilly climate for women.…”

“…Critics of Hall and Sandler's original work (e.g., Heller, Puff, & Mills, 1985) accurately pointed out that no data were collected and much of the information presented was anecdotal in nature. According to this report, the campus environment was defined as including interactions with other students and staff, and students ' experiences with support services such as admissions, financial aid, academic advising and career counseling, lab and field work, campus employment, internships, health care, campus safety, dormitory life, athletics, and student government and leadership, all of which may potentially contribute to a less than accepting campus climate.…”