Gender gaps in university governance and teaching careers in Peru

Abstract

This article explores gender gaps in university governance, analyzing evidence related to the distribution of positions by sex, both in senior management and academic leadership in Peruvian universities, as well as in the teaching staff. It is shown that there is little participation of women in university governing bodies, information that is analyzed according to the type of university and the field of knowledge of the academic faculty. Likewise, a reconstruction on the teaching hierarchy is made, showing that there is a limited presence of women in senior teaching positions with full-time dedication in the university, which would prevent an eventual election as representatives to the rectorship. Since women are a quantitatively minority group in Peruvian university positions, the study seeks to provide evidence that can be used to promote gender equality policies. In particular, those that promote a greater presence of women in the teaching career in important positions and facilitate the new generations of female students to have leadership, management and academic mentoring referents within the universities.