This study examined the challenges women faced in attaining and maintaining leadership roles in higher education across different regions, based on research published over the past five years. A systematic review of 75 articles published between 2019 and 2024 was conducted, focusing on empirical studies that specifically addressed the barriers women encounter in postsecondary leadership. The findings revealed that (a) despite global efforts very little has been achieved to improve the situation of women in higher education leadership, (b) while many of the challenges are shared globally, women from specific cultural and religious backgrounds reported unique obstacles, and (d) institutional challenges were more pronounced than those at the societal and personal levels.
These results suggest that reform efforts should prioritize restructuring institutional policies and practices to promote equitable leadership development opportunities. Moreover, policies addressing gender disparity must be tailored to the specific regional, cultural, and religious contexts of women leaders, as a one-size-fits-all approach fails to address the distinct challenges faced by diverse groups of women.

Authors:
Yuan He, Stephen F. Austin State University, United States
Azra Fanoos, University of Victoria, Canada

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Azra Fanoos holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and is currently serving as a Visiting Professor at the University of Victoria, Canada. Her research focuses on gender, leadership, and social justice in educational leadership.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

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