Women in Academic Administration at the University

Abstract

In this article we summarize the most relevant findings from a research study that endeavours to incorporate a gender perspective in the study of university administration. The study analyses the role of women in both horizontal and vertical administrative structures in four Catalan universities, taking into account their expectations and perceptions. Overall, the results point to the existence of both external and internal barriers that explain the lack of women in university administration. Among these barriers, organizational culture appears as a change-resistant element that promotes an environment dominated by male values and justifies most women’s self-exclusion from university administration. The study also identifies the main features of how these women depict their experiences in administration and attempts to articulate an alternative discourse for leadership at the university.

Female Leadership Capacity and Effectiveness: A Critical Analysis of the Literature on Higher Education in Saudi Arabia

“…Researchers (Kellerman & Rhodes, 2014;Keohane, 2014;Toma`s et al, 2010) were able to identify gender stereotypes as a leading factor in shaping attitudes toward women in leadership roles, which hinder opportunities for career advancement. In Kellerman and Rhodes (2014), it is emphasized that females face a double bind and double standard due to prevailing gender stereotypes associated with leadership and masculinity.…”

“…Researchers (Arini et al, 2011;Kellerman & Rhodes, 2014;Keohane, 2014;Pyke, 2013;Tessens et al, 2011;Toma`s et al, 2010) have been able to identify actual or perceived barriers and obstacles to female advancement in higher education settings. Such barriers and obstacles are perceived as gender-based and function at social, organizational, and personal levels (Diehl, 2014).…”

“…In the literature gathered (Arini et al, 2011;Kellerman & Rhodes, 2014;Keohane, 2014;Pyke, 2013;Tessens et al, 2011;Toma`s et al, 2010), difficulty balancing the demands of family and work emerged as a recurrent barrier to female advancement in higher education. For example, Kellerman and Rhodes (2014) highlighted the disproportionate burdens in the home where women attend to family responsibilities more than their spouses.…”

“…In keeping with Kellerman and Rhodes's (2014) concept of disproportionate burdens, Toma`s et al (2010) conducted a study on 18 female leaders across four universities in Spain. The findings revealed that female leaders had the greatest difficulty attending to the conflicting demands and commitments of family and career.…”

Gender in universities and participation in governing bodies

“…It is a widely recognised phenomenon within Spanish universities that as the level of power and responsibility increases, so the number of women occupying elevated positions decreases (Tomàs, M et al 2010). In view of the fact that university governance in Spain is based largely on a participatory system, the aim of our study was to observe how teaching staff participate in their governing bodies.…”