Many Lives of Women Rectors at Turkish Universities

Abstract

Women at Turkish Universities do not have the same level of representation as rectors as they have academics at the higher education. It is vital to have women, as one of the genders which comprises the community, at the higher education management as rectors to ensure the gender equality in Turkey. As well as the traditional roles assigned to women in Turkey, the lack of legal arrangements and challenges based on gender discrimination faced by women might be the cause of the women’s low representation in the higher education management. This study aims to explicate the experience of being a woman rector through qualitative data gathered from four rectors working at state and foundation universities in Turkey. The low representation of women in higher education management has been identified as a universal problem. It is obvious that woman academics in Turkish universities have low representation at the universities’ top management. Following two themes were identified: Perspectives of Women Rectors Regarding Their Roles and Challenges Faced. These themes were revealed through the voices of women rectors in Turkey. Therefore, this study is expected to bring unique insights both for university administrators and policy makers in terms of raising an awareness for the role of women leaders.