A Gendered Analysis of Promotional Issues in Higher Education: A Case Study of University of Ghana, Legon

Abstract

The aim of the study was to delve into promotional issues of faculty in tertiary institutions using the University of Ghana, Legon as a case study with a focus on rank at recruitment and current position of faculty. Data were collected using a combination of structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews among 142 faculty made up of 33 women and 109 men. The findings of this study indicate that the male faculty were recruited with higher qualification than their female counterparts and they tend to rise up the academic ladder faster than their female counterpart. What accounted for these differences are the role mentors have played in their academic careers and the fact that they have stronger support networks than their female faculty and have had mentors in the beginning of their professional career through informal mentors who mentored them. The female faculty described experiences indicating that they were more vulnerable to subtle discrimination practices than male faculty.

Keyswords: Gender, glass ceiling, rank, recruitment, promotion, institutional barriers, leadership