Gender Barriers in Academia: Perceptions of Inequality in Professional Development among Female Academics in the Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, Spain

Abstract

Spanish universities have been implementing gender equality policies for over a decade. The research presented here aims to determine the barriers and challenges perceived by female academics in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alicante. The study used a seven-point Likert-type scale survey consisting of 10 items, which were validated by specialists from different universities. One of the key findings was that often barriers have ceased to be seen as such and are understood instead as a normalized reality. Nevertheless, participants stress that women face greater barriers than men when it comes to reaching top-level positions; highlighting issues such as a lack of mentorship, delayed motherhood, experiencing sexist behavior and comments from male colleagues; and a lack of consensus around measures, such as reconciling work–life balance, as a means of largely eliminating the barriers they face in the university.

Self-Perceptions and Benefits of Psychological Resilience Among Women Academics in the Context of Working in South African Higher Education Institutions (SA-HEIs): A Mixed-Method Approach

“…In the context of HEIs, a sense of positive self-efficacy may assist women academics overcome internal and external barriers (Greer, 2011; Sojo et al, 2016). For instance, women may not communicate their expectations effectively and may lack the self-confidence to strive for promotions in top-level positions or be assigned to more desirable academic roles (Dominguez & Diez, 2022; Greer, 2011; Sojo et al, 2016). The preceding section emphasized the importance of academic credentials, expertise, and knowledge for academics to successfully fulfil complex academic roles.…”

Does the Faculty’s Perception of Gender Discrimination Relate to Its Assessment of Organizational Democracy in the University?

“…As McCarry and Jones (2022) [ 60 ] point out, cultures and practices of gender inequality have been altered but not dismantled. The problem raised is accentuated when considering the perceptions of women academics within their institutions, which include an unwelcoming and threatening academic climate, and the scarce or null existence of support networks for the professional success of women [ 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ].…”