Affirmative Action or Increased Competition

Abstract

Summary Library literature is replete with the discussion of affirmative action and diversity initiatives yet little statistical analysis exists with regard to the gains made by women and minorities in top management positions. Can Title IX legislation and affirmative action efforts be linked to the promotion of women and minorities in academic libraries? Have these legislative developments served to increase competition between these groups? This article looks at the last twelve years of gender and race data for eighty-sis academic libraries in eight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I conferences. White women have increased their numbers as deans in this selected sample while women and men of color continue to have a very small presence in top library management. Additionally, analysis demonstrates that the gains made by women and minorities occur in specific regions of the United States.