Gender and leadership in Turkish and Australian universities

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the factors in the under‐representation of female Rectors/Vice‐Chancellors (VCs), Vice‐Rectors/Deputy Vice‐Chancellors (DVCs), and Pro‐Rectors/Pro Vice‐Chancellors (PVCs) – collectively described as the University Executive or senior management – in Turkey and Australia. This includes support and mentoring, recruitment and selection processes, and the role of Rectors/VCs.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative interviews are conducted with both male and female senior managers in old and new and metropolitan and regional universities in Turkey and Australia.

Findings

It is found that some women have difficulty getting into senior management, and generally their support or mentoring came from further down the organization than for men. In both countries male and female managers consider that Rectors/VCs are particularly influential in senior management appointments, with women perceiving this as a barrier. The particularly low representation of women in senior management in Turkey reflects the absence of equity frameworks, but also role conflict which is more likely to impact on women in relation to senior management rather than academic appointments.

Practical implications

This research indicates that it is still difficult for women in both countries to be appointed to senior management roles in Universities and that support, networks and the role of Rectors/VCs in the appointment process are important factors. Awareness about gender in senior management links back to legislative frameworks or lack of them. Universities in Australia – unlike Turkey – are required to report annually on their commitment to addressing under representation of women in their workforce. The impact of legislative compliance has been to sensitise both men and women in universities to gender issues. Turkey, by contrast, continues to have low representation of women in senior management and no legislative imperative to address this inequality. And because many women in Turkey decide not to apply for senior management positions due to conflict between work and family responsibilities, their representation remains low and fails to challenge the prevalent view that gender is not an issue in senior management.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that equity frameworks –or lack of them – may have an impact on the representation of women in higher education (HE) senior management in Turkey and Australia but that cultural factors such as role conflict may also prevent women in Turkey from applying for senior management positions.

Citation

Özkanlı, Ö. and White, K. (2009), "Gender and leadership in Turkish and Australian universities", Equal Opportunities International, Vol. 28 No. 4, pp. 324-335. https://doi.org/10.1108/02610150910954782