{"id":7008,"date":"2025-04-24T07:51:19","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T07:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/?page_id=7008"},"modified":"2025-04-25T02:53:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T02:53:07","slug":"t18-s01-papers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/t18-s01-papers\/","title":{"rendered":"T18\/S01: Archaeology While Female: The Challenges of Bias, Inequity and Backlash for Women in Professional Archaeology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Format: Paper presentations<\/strong> with discussion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Convenors:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicole Boivin, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Germany,\u00a0boivin@gea.mpg.de<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carito Tavera Medina, University of Barcelona, Spain,\u00a0caritotaveramedina@ub.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discipline of archaeology has, in many countries, moved on considerably from a time when women were excluded from professional spaces or relegated to the discipline\u2019s periphery. Yet critical professional inequities and biases remain, presenting ongoing challenges to practicing archaeology \u2018while female\u2019. These challenges include persistent problems of sexual harassment, often intensified by the hierarchical male settings that characterise field and lab work, as well as structural barriers faced by women during pregnancy and while managing caregiving responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women in archaeology also encounter systemic obstacles familiar across many fields, including wage disparities, gender-biased promotion and tenure practices, disproportionate mentorship demands, excessive teaching loads, and skewed teaching evaluations. A higher prevalence of part-time and precarious contracts further compounds these challenges. In extreme cases, female archaeologists have experienced workplace hostility, resistance to their authority, bullying\u2014including upward bullying\u2014and even vexatious or malicious allegations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This session seeks to document, assess, and propose solutions to these persistent professional inequities across archaeology\u2019s academic, research, heritage, government, and industry sectors. It also explores the intersectional biases that amplify these challenges, particularly for marginalised women, including Indigenous women, women of colour, and gender-minority women. We invite archaeological practitioners from diverse backgrounds and global contexts to participate in this crucial discussion. By examining and addressing gender biases and their intersectional dimensions, we aim to foster a more inclusive and equitable discipline that fully supports and values the contributions of all its members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Papers:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Narrowing Career Path for Women in Archaeology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kasih Norman, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Germany<\/em>
Emma Finestone, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, USA<\/em>
Rahab Kinyanjui, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Germany<\/em>
Alison Crowther, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, Australia\u00a0<\/em>
Sinyati Robinson Mark, Dept of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, The University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania<\/em>
Shixia Yang, Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China<\/em>
Nicole Boivin, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Germany<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past decades, the number of women studying, researching and working in archaeology has grown steadily. At the same time, increasing awareness of the biases and barriers faced by women across academia more broadly has also promoted diverse gender parity studies and initiatives within the field. Yet, despite these trends, real measures of female leadership, authority and prestige suggest that biases remain entrenched and affect female career progression in archaeology. Here we examine data relating to women\u2019s publication in high impact journals, receipt of awards, and promotion to professorships or other leadership positions to interrogate ongoing biases within academic archaeology and their relationship to broader trends across the academy. We compile datasets from several countries across the Global North and Global South, and also examine the role of intersectional identities in amplifying the authority biases faced by women in archaeology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Female Archaeologists and Their Careers in China: Opportunities and Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shixia Yang, Xinyi Xue, Nairu Lin, Jingwen Xu, Siqi Lu, Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following global trends, Chinese women entered archaeology in the mid-20th century, but few achieved independent careers. It was not until the beginning of this century, with the advancement of educational equality, that more women began to enter this professional domain. However, even today, female archaeologists still face numerous career challenges stemming from gender, which subject female archaeologists to obstacles and additional pressures in areas such as job promotion, securing funding, and obtaining managerial authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back over the past two decades, we examine the number and proportion of female archaeologists within major research institutions and universities in China. We have also reviewed their ages, their professional titles, publication records, and leadership positions within their respective institutions. The results reveal that, compared to their predecessors, female archaeologists born after 1980 have experienced a relatively rapid increase in their proportion and have achieved remarkable success in publishing papers within related fields. Additionally, a significant number have ascended to leadership positions. However, they still encounter significant gaps in career advancement and leadership opportunities compared to their male counterparts. So, we are still charting the course to true gender equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital Bridges: Highlighting the Gender Inequalities in Archaeology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carito Tavera Medina, Departament d\u2019Hist\u00f2ria i Arqueologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The digital revolution has transformed access to knowledge and professional opportunities in archaeology. However, gender biases persist in digital spaces, exacerbating the inequalities faced by women archaeologists. This paper examines how digital platforms both reflect and challenge barriers such as wage inequality, gender biased promotion, and precarious employment conditions that disproportionately affect women and gender minority professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By analysing digital gender equity initiatives, particularly in the Hispanic Global South and Spain, this study highlights how online spaces serve as arenas where traditional narratives about women in archaeology are both reinforced and challenged. It also explores the role of digital activism in addressing sexual harassment, workplace hostility, and exclusionary practices. Recognising the intersectional nature of these challenges, this research highlights the need for inclusive policies that mitigate discrimination against Indigenous women, women of colour, and gender minority archaeologists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This paper contributes to the discussion of professional inequalities in archaeology by positioning digital spaces as sites of both struggle and transformation. This paper is part of the Arque\u00f3logas\/Herstory project (ref. PID2023-149477NB-I00).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women in Argentinian Archaeology: The Last Three Decades and Future Prospects in a Regressive Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vivian Scheinsohn, M\u00f3nica Ber\u00f3n, Mariana Mondini and Cristina Bellelli, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient\u00edficas y T\u00e9cnicas (CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Antropolog\u00eda y Pensamiento Latinoamericano (INAPL), Universidad de Buenos Aires<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1993, we published a study (Bellelli et al. 1993, later expanded in Bellelli et al. 1994) in which we examined the representation of women in Argentine archaeological research and education at a time when neglect, harassment, and inequality were prevalent. This study was recognised as the first in Latin America to address gender issues in archaeological practice (Navarrete 2010; Prieto Olavarr\u00eda and Chaparro 2020; Bejarano Espinosa 2022). The study\u2019s main conclusion was that, although women were numerous in the lower ranks of the field, men dominated the higher ranks, effectively controlling research agendas, funding allocation, and leadership positions. Thirty years later, driven by the enthusiasm, discussions, and discoveries sparked by new generations of archaeologists, we have decided to revisit the topic. Our aim is to assess whether the situation has changed since then, and to what extent, if any, progress has been made. In this presentation, we also seek to explore the intersectional factors that shape our work, as well as to offer proposals for the future, in light of the significant political shifts that have occurred in the past year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional Inequities: Women and the Practice of Archaeology in Ecuador<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria Auxiliadora Cordero, Instituto Panamericano de Geograf\u00eda e Historia (IPGH), Ecuador<\/em>
Josefina V\u00e1squez Pazmi\u00f1o, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador<\/em>
Gabriela L\u00f3pez Soria, Sacharxeos C\u00eda. Ltda., Ecuador<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although traditionally considered a male, upper-class endeavour in the imaginary of the general public, archaeology in Ecuador is currently being practiced by a growing number of female professionals. Women now constitute a sizeable proportion of archaeologists in the nation. However, throughout the development of the discipline in the country, it is males who have had the most recognition and the more prestigious positions. Based on numerical data from the register of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage and membership in the Ecuadorian association of archaeologists, we seek to establish the presence of females among the professionals in the country with more precision. We also explore the roles of other women who participate in the discipline in various capacities that do not appear in these records. We delve into various factors, including national culture, the development of academic archaeology, and the availability and kinds of professional employment as sources of the inequities in our field. We examine positive steps that have been taken to help ameliorate this situation and explore possibilities for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fifty Years of Doing Archaeology While Female: What Has Changed and What Remains to be Done<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pam J. Crabtree, Professor of Anthropology, New York University<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I entered the PhD program in Anthropological Archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1972 at age 20. At that time the UPenn faculty was almost entirely male, and I was my PhD adviser’s first female PhD. I was first hired by Princeton University in 1984, and I have spent the past 40 years as an archaeology faculty member at Princeton and New York University. Important issues facing women in archaeology include sexual harassment, maternity and family leave, support for women conducting field and lab research, requirements for department and university service, leadership opportunities, and mentorship. Based on my long experience in the field, this presentation will address how and to what extent these issues have been dealt over the past 50 years and what has changed and what still needs to be done to support women in archaeology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Male Allyship in Archaeology and the Pursuit of Gender Equity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Rivera, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenges of gender bias, inequity and patriarchal violence in archaeology are profound and multifaceted. Despite a significant presence of women in undergraduate and postgraduate programs, their representation diminishes at higher academic ranks, revealing a persistent glass ceiling. This talk outlines preliminary findings from long-form interviews with male archaeologists, revealing candid reflections on their roles and responsibilities in addressing such systemic issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Results reveal men’s differing notions of allyship and their various strategies for advocacy (or lack thereof) as agents within archaeology. This research reveals sources of hesitation, and the challenges men face in taking action. For instance, some interviewees express guilt about benefiting from systemic inequalities, while others are frustrated and confused by the slow pace of change and a perceived inability to make significant impacts. Several successful initiatives have encouraged men’s allyship through the provision of allyship-related resources, training and discussion spaces within their faculties or workplaces. More importantly, men’s efforts to support women’s careers, collaborative projects, and institutional protections regarding safety are crucial for dismantling sexist structural and institutional barriers in archaeology. In conclusion, men are urged to address their own emotional responses, collaborate with others, and practice becoming more politically involved in promoting safety and equity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unearthing Inequality: Gender-Based Challenges Faced by Young Chinese Female Archaeologists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yile Hu, University of Hong Kong<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This research adopts the combination of questionnaire surveys and personal interviews to examine and explore the academic choices, fieldwork experiences, and job-seeking processes of young Chinese female scholars currently or previously engaged in archaeological work. Overall, the gender-based challenges faced by young Chinese female scholars in the field of archaeology can be categorised into three main types: sexual harassment, unequal access to professional opportunities, and negative societal perceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sexual harassment is the common issue in many archaeological sites, but currently there is no strategy in China specifically designed to protect females from sexual harassment in the context of field archaeology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gender-based disparities in access to opportunities are widespread for Chinese female archaeologists seeking internships and employment, as many archaeological institutions continue to explicitly state in their recruitment guidelines that they do not hire female field archaeologists during public recruitment processes, while gender discrimination is also prevalent within the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Societal pressures directly or indirectly influence the academic choices and life perspectives of Chinese female archaeologists. Societal perceptions about the physical capabilities and willpower of women in the archaeological field exert a negative impact on current female scholars and young women aspiring to enter the profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Archaeology, the Female Experience 1991-2021: Thirty Years of Data from the UK <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Pope, University of Liverpool, UK<\/em>
Anne Teather, Past Participate, UK<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2007, the authors have engaged voluntarily in mapping the maintenance of social and organisational structures perpetuating inequalities in UK archaeology. Analysis of data from the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists employment surveys (1999-2021) enables an understanding of why many women, often reluctantly, left archaeology in their 30s before 2020 \u2013 in a continual \u2018leaky pipeline\u2019 or \u2018sector exodus\u2019 \u2013 following gendering of tasks\/under-employment, lack of parenting support, and gendered promotion, leading to pay disparity. We find reproduction of post-WWII stereotypes facilitated a \u2018problematisation\u2019 of women and an \u2018inevitability\u2019 around discriminatory employment practices, resulting in retention issues and low representation at senior levels. We discover how an early equality and diversity agenda (Morris 1992) was dismantled in the late 1990s, and explore the impact on women\u2019s careers, with respect to parenting, discrimination\/harassment, and pay\/promotion. Despite an increase in young women recruits since the 2000s, the sector remained a gendered structure in employment terms, due to late 1990s leadership decisions around equality. This latter can also be linked to the UK sector\u2019s alarming lack of diversity, which we further explore. We argue that the late 1990s refusal to modernise employment structures around women workers\u2019 needs underpins ongoing economic precarity in the sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing Gender Inequality in East African Archaeology: Challenges and Progress<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rahab N. Kinyanjui, Dept of Earth Sciences, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya; Dept of Coevolution of Land Use and Urbanisation, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany<\/em>
Christine A. Ogola, Dept of Earth Sciences, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since its inception, East African archaeology has been largely dominated by foreign researchers and by men. This is due to inequalities caused by biased funding opportunities and restricted accessibility of information, factors that particularly impact African women. This situation has prevented East African women from excelling in archaeology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, archaeological interpretation has often ignored African perspectives, instead privileging foreign narratives that were biased towards specific cultures and social statuses, and that undermined inclusivity. Women\u2019s voices have suffered most from these setbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Archaeology requires significant time in the field and\/or lab, as well as time for writing. This particularly disadvantages family women who have to balance work and family responsibilities. In addition, societal expectations of women, professionally and otherwise, place women archaeologists in a box, only to think and interpret data in a specific way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This paper highlights the major challenges to women archaeologists in Eastern Africa, citing examples of a few renowned individuals in Kenya. We also discuss some of the efforts that are being made to address biases and promote active participation of women in all aspects of archaeology, ensuring that the field becomes more equitable and representative of diverse perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intersectional Challenges Facing Women Archaeologists in India <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karishma Gupta, Dept <\/em>of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology, Banaras Hindu University Varanasi, India<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Archaeology has long been a male-dominated field, yet women have played crucial roles in shaping its development. This paper explores the intersectional experiences of women in archaeology, examining how gender, race, class, and other social factors influence their participation, recognition, and professional trajectories. We analyse women’s challenges through historical and contemporary perspectives, from early exclusion and marginalization to present-day struggles with discrimination and bias. The study also highlights the contributions of pioneering women archaeologists and the impact of feminist and decolonial approaches in reshaping the discipline. By addressing issues of representation, labour equity, and inclusivity, this research underscores the need for systemic change to create a more diverse and equitable archaeological practice. Understanding these intersectionalities is essential for fostering a more inclusive and comprehensive interpretation of the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, greater representation remains necessary, especially in fieldwork, excavation leadership, and academic discourse. Addressing issues of gender disparity, inclusivity, and institutional support can further empower women in archaeology in India, ensuring their voices and research receive the recognition they deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gender Equity and Intersectional Diversity in American Academic Archaeology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laura E. Heath-Stout<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the earliest studies of gender inequities in archaeology, published 40 years ago, there has been an enormous influx of women into archaeology, as shown in many quantitative studies of the genders of publication authors and grant recipients. Yet, my intersectional quantitative research has demonstrated that the women entering the discipline are disproportionately white and straight: archaeology\u2019s approach to gender parity has not necessarily been a sign of more holistic diversification. Indeed, when equity issues are discussed in single-issue, gender-focused ways, the concerns of the most privileged women may dominate the conversation, which limits our progress toward diversity. In this paper, I will draw on my quantitative and qualitative research on the demographics, career paths, and knowledge production among U.S.-based academic archaeologists to argue that our work for diversity and equity must always be intersectional in order to achieve its aims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Role of Women in Non-Academic Australian Archaeology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Delyna Baxter<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women play a pivotal role in Australian archaeology beyond academia, particularly within large-scale infrastructure projects where cultural heritage management is a critical component. This paper examines the contributions of women working in consultancy, government, and heritage advisory roles on major developments such as rail, road, and energy projects. It explores their impact on heritage protection, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge in project planning. Despite these contributions, women in non-academic archaeology continue to face challenges related to career progression, workplace equity, and representation in leadership roles. Through case studies and industry insights, this paper highlights both the successes and systemic barriers encountered by women in infrastructure-driven archaeology. By amplifying their experiences, this research advocates for policies and industry practices that enhance inclusivity, professional recognition, and long-term career sustainability in the sector.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Format: Paper presentations with discussion Convenors:\u00a0 Nicole Boivin, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Germany,\u00a0boivin@gea.mpg.de Carito Tavera Medina, University of Barcelona, Spain,\u00a0caritotaveramedina@ub.edu The discipline of archaeology has, in many countries, moved on considerably from a time when women were excluded from professional spaces or relegated to the discipline\u2019s periphery. Yet critical professional inequities and biases remain, presenting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1157,"featured_media":276,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-7008","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"pmpro-has-access","7":"czr-hentry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7008","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1157"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7008"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7008\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7491,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7008\/revisions\/7491"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}