Research Symposium

BIO

Libby is a sophomore from Winter Park, Florida. She aspires to complete her bachelor’s degree and receive a master's before pursuing a job as a Forensic Accountant. Her dream job is to work as a Forensic Accountant for the FBI. Libby has always been interested in the differences between men and women in the workplace and was very eager to assist in this research project as it pertains to her future career.

Is there evidence of gender-discrimination in Accounting graduates of Florida State University?

Abstract

The field of Accounting is rife with job growth and opportunities for undergraduate students to develop a lucrative career in business. This project focuses on the success rates of Florida State University alumni who graduated with a degree in Accounting, and whether their gender had correlations with measures of their success. Some of the variables associated with “success” examined were salary levels, whether or not participants had been promoted to C-suite positions, whether they had been promoted to partner, and if they reported experiencing discrimination. Our research team collected data through the use of an optional survey sent to all FSU Accounting graduates from the classes of 1975-2020, and using publicly-available online data about participants, primarily from LinkedIn.com. The results of this data collection are still undergoing, but it is crucial to understand and minimize gender discrimination in an industry with a history of such issues.

Keywords: Accounting, Gender Discrimination