Strained metaphor because programs don't have lifespans over which to calculate 'total' fertility like people do, but feels like something useful in that analogy.
2016 starts the decline, roughly. A relatively good year for ASA job postings, but it's roughly one PhD length after the 2008/9 job market crash. Could be permanent decline?
But the 2020-2022 decline may be more delayed graduation (fieldwork pauses, funding extensions, bad job market...). 🤷♂️
How should we interpret this? Is a 50-50 split in males and females desired or are there perspectives that are not being covered in the literature due to this trend?
I don't have an answer for that. Generally too many women means the field will be devalued. On the other hand, maybe female majority is good for workplace/professional dynamics (depending on power disparities, etc). But how much? Don't know.
