The Role of Gender Factor in Career Advancement of Academics

This study is aimed to determine academic s’ negative and positive perceptions of gender factor in career advancement, to identify the problems encountered and to propose solutions to these problems. Basically the situations related to the effect of gender factor in career advancement of female and male academics working at the universities in Konya, Turkey are investigated. Critical success factors, barriers to career advancement have been identified from the standpoint of female and male academics. Moreover, the satisfaction levels and female and male academic s’ perceptions of gender-based discrimination about the working life have been assessed. This study is based on an empirical analysis on a survey which was conducted among 34 females, 52 males, total 86 academics of 2 public and 2 foundation universities chosen by purposive sampling method. The results show that the academics in Konya have conceptions that male academics are trusted, empowered, and given responsibility/task/assignment more and male academics get higher salary then female academics at the same level. Hence, the academics in Konya have the perception of gender-based discrimination.