Exploring the gender identity roles of Calhoun 25 entry-level men in student affairs

Research has shown a steady and significant decrease in the percentage of men relative to their female counterparts the entering the stu- dent affairs profession since 1972 (Hamrick & Carlisle, 1990; McEwen, Engstrom, & Wil- liams, 1990; McEwen, Williams, & Engstrom, 1991; Taub & McEwen, 2006). Studies have indicated that the percentage of women in master's preparation programs in student affairs ranges from approximately two thirds (Keim, 1991; McEwen et al., 1990; Task Force on Professional Preparation and Practice, 1989) to 80% (Talbot, 1996), depending on the study. This can be compared to data from 1972-73, when women made up only 43% of the students in master's preparation programs (Phelps Tobin, 1998). Current National Asso- ciation of Student Personnel Administrators membership data portray a similar picture of the profession today; total National Associa- tion of Student Personnel Administrators membership is only 32% male and, if senior student affairs officers are removed from con- sideration, only 30% male (B. A. Sponsler, personal communication, November 9, 2012). Upcraft (1998) identified the gender imbal- ance in preparation programs and in the pro- fession (p. 235) as an issue that needed to be addressed. Upcraft argued that the domination of the profession by one sex or the other is det- rimental and called for making special efforts to recruit men to the profession.This shift from a predominance of men to a predominance of women in the profession has been referred to as the of stu- dent affairs (Blackhurst, 2000; Hughes, 1989; McEwen et al., 1991). Scholars have sug- gested that the of student affairs may be related to devaluation of student affairs work (Blackhurst) and lower salary lev- els (McEwen et al.). Hughes (1989) also sug- gested that feminization might make the student affairs profession appear to be less desirable to men as is it perceived as a low pay- ing, low prestige field.Further exacerbating the issue of fewer men entering the profession is attrition from the profession, particularly at the entry-level stage (0-5 years). Although the published research on attrition from the profession is dated, stud- ies have indicated that attrition of entry-level professionals is between 32% (Wood, Win- ston, & Polkosnik, 1985) and 61% (Holmes, Verrier, & Chisholm, 1983). Although some studies have reported greater attrition among women than among men (Holmes et al., 1983), given the small numbers of men entering the field at present, significant attrition among men at the entry-level stage clearly will have an impact on the profession since their num- bers already are so small. College students need to have a diverse group of role models in the student affairs professionals on their cam- puses. In addition, given the role that mentor- ship and sponsorship play in entry into the profession (Taub & McEwen, 2006; Williams, McEwen, & Engstrom, 1990), if men are to be recruited into the profession, it will most likely be by male mentors (Taub & McEwen). The need for experienced mentors to aid in the development of college men is crucial to their development (Davis, LaPrad, & Dixon, 2011). These mentors are of particular importance in entry-level positions, as those have the most student contact and the greatest chance for impact (Harper & Harris, 2010b). Those men who choose to enter student affairs become even more important, and that critical window within the first 5-years in the field needs to be investigated further.It should be noted that, although women predominate in master's level preparation pro- grams and entry-level positions, this is not true at the senior level of the profession. Women still are in the minority at the senior student affairs level. For example, an analysis of 2001- 02 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Salary Survey data (collected from senior student affairs officers) showed that approximately 60% of the senior student affairs officers were male (Engstrom, McIn- tosh, Ridzi, & Kruger, 2006). …