Assessing Gender Inequality Through the Lens of Higher Education

Kadir Has University Gender and Women's Studies Research Centre released a study on "Gender In(equality) in Higher Education in Turkey" covering the period 1984-2018. In the research conducted to examine changes over time, the distribution of female and male academic staff members across regions and faculties in Turkey between 1984 and 2018 was analysed. Kadir Has University Gender and Women's Studies Research Centre, within the scope of the Horizon 2020 Programme and under the Systematic Action Project for Gender Equality supported by the European Commission, released the study "Gender In(equality) in Higher Education in Turkey". One of the primary objectives of the research was to examine changes over time in gender inequality in higher education.

Inequality Present at Senior Management Level

According to the research findings, 90.9% of rectors in Turkey are male while 9.1% are female. It is notable that only 10.3% of rector deputies are female. Inequality is also evident in professor positions and creates the foundation for inequality in senior management. According to the research, 68.8% of professors in Turkey are male and 31.2% are female.

Greatest Inequality in Southeastern Anatolia Region

When gender inequality in higher education is examined regionally, the Marmara, Central Anatolia and Aegean regions comply with 60% male and 40% female equality, while the Southeastern Anatolia Region stands out as the most unequal region among all regions with a 22.8% female rate in academia.

Female Academics Most Prevalent in Architecture, Communication and Health Sciences Departments

According to the research results within the framework of "Gender In(equality) in Higher Education", 61.8% of academics in Turkey are male while 38.2% are female. Particularly when faculty distributions are examined, the Faculty of Divinity stands out as the most unequal faculty with a 10% female rate in academia. The Faculties of Architecture, Communication and Health Sciences rank among the faculties where women are numerically dominant.

Greater Equality in Private Universities

According to the report revealing a trend towards increased gender equality in higher education over the past 30 years, while 61.8% of academics nationwide are male and 38.2% are female, there is a notable difference between state universities and private universities. When we look at private universities, 57% of academic staff are male and 43% are female, whereas in state universities this stands at 63% male and 37% female.