PSU | Department of Geography | Supporting Women in Geography

PSU home | Admissions | Visitor Info | PSU Portals

resources forexplore

exploreresources for

SWIG wins Outstanding Organization of the Year Award

SWIG is an official, university-recognized organization largely made up of students within the Department of Geography. SWIG´s mission is to promote the participation of women in the discipline of geography and to empower women who are pursuing academic and professional careers in geography. We provide regular opportunities for women and supporters of women to come together for intellectual, professional, and personal support, and to develop a network of information and resources.

Why does SWIG exist?:

Because Berkeley, the oldest geography department in the country, has never tenured a woman.
Because in 1999, women represented a mere 29 percent of faculty with tenure.
Because though women now account for about half of all graduate students, they do not get tenure at the same rate as men.
Because men with small children are significantly more likely than women with small children to be granted tenure (Mason 2002).
Because men with children are more likely than men without children to be granted tenure (Mason 2002).
Because women are forced to either drop out of the tenure pipeline in order to have children, or not have children in order to accommodate the tenure system (Mason 2004).
Because in our recent history, female faculty at Johns Hopkins were forced to go into the back door of the faculty club in order to attend faculty meetings.
Because the Penn State department of Geography has no emeritus women (with the exception of Glenda Laws).
Because the Penn State department of Geography has never had a female department head (with the exception of a one year fill in by Amy Glasmeier).
Because, as the popularity of SWIG clearly demonstrates, many of the women in this department, and some of the men, feel that its necessary.