Being a woman in academy: A research in the context of career experiences

In business life, women may be exposed to discrimination based on gender roles and various obstacles as a result. This study was carried out in order to determine the career barriers of female academicians and to understand the reasons of these barriers. In the research, phenomenological research design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. The study group of the research consists of 20 female Faculty Members, including three Research Assistants, six Teaching Assistants, six Assistant Professors, two Associate Professors and three Professors working in various cities. The branches of the participants and the institutions they work vary. The study group was determined by using the snowball sampling method. In this study, semi-structured interview type, one of the interview types, was used. As a data collection tool, a semi-structured interview form was prepared by the researcher, and after the expert opinion was taken, final corrections were made and used as a data collection tool. The data collected within the scope of the research were analyzed by using the content analysis technique. As a result of the research, the obstacles that female academicians face in their home and work lives, the reasons of these obstacles and the coping strategies that female academicians have developed to cope with these obstacles have been revealed. Keywords: Gender, Female academician, Career barrier.