FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT IN CHILE

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to characterize women’s participation in university management leadership positions, specifically in unipersonal positions such as Dean, Rector, Chancellor, Vice-Rector, and Vice-Chancellor of universities in Chile. This, with the purpose of analyzing the barriers and limitations that are presented to women to move up in the workplace and that explain the low presence of these in managerial positions, with a future perspective that allows an advance of female labor insertion in university management.

This research has a mixed character, both quantitative and qualitative in nature. For this purpose, an investigation and analysis of primary sources is carried out, through universities’ web pages that are part of the sample. Eleven semi-structured interviews to key informants complement the analysis.

The results of the research mainly conclude that there is low female participation in Rectory, Vice-Rectory and Deanship positions, and that the main barriers found are: the incompatibility of family and work responsibilities, perception of male rejection and the nature of academic activities.