Women’s career trajectories in higher education : a comparative analysis of the United States, Italy and Portugal

Hatcher, Cheri L. (author), Costa, Joana Martinho (author), Tino, Concetta (author), Coryell, Joellen E. (author)

This article outlines comparative research on women’s career trajectories in higher education across three nations. Framed by critical feminist theory (CFT) and utilising a qualitative comparative analysis research design, the authors examine macro, meso, and micro levels through document, policy, and practice analysis within the socio-cultural and political contexts in the United States, Italy, and Portugal. CFT is constructive in examining how gender is socially constructed, prioritises the voices of marginalised women through empowerment and agency, and works to dismantle patriarchal power systems. Additional qualitative research is required to gain perspective and a holistic understanding of the complexities of women’s intersectionalities and career experiences in higher education. The study offers similarities and differences in the national cases and recommendations for practice and future research. The researchers suggest investigating how anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) sentiment and policy reversals in the United States and other nations affect gender equity in higher education faculty and leadership careers.

• Language: English
• Keywords: women’s higher education careers, higher education career pipeline, comparative higher education, critical feminist theory, intersectionality
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.01.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 43-64
• Numbering: Letn. 31, [št.] 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-178352
• UDC: 305
• ISSN on article: 1318-5160
• DOI: 10.4312/as/20030
• COBISS.SI-ID: 235595779
• Publication date in RUL: 23.01.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Andragoška spoznanja = Studies in adult education and learning
• Shortened title: AS. Andrag. spozn.
• Publisher: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 1318-5160
• COBISS.SI-ID: 45586176

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: žensko vprašanje, kariere žensk v visokem šolstvu, karierna pot v visokem šolstvu, primerjalno visokošolsko izobraževanje, spol in inovacije, kritična feministična teorija, intersekcionalnost