Challenges and accomplishment of women in university: A narrative review

Aslanzadeh, R.

doi:10.22035/jous.2024.5062.1043

Challenges and accomplishment of women in university: A narrative review

Document Type : Review Paper

Author

R. Aslanzadeh

PhD in Theoretical-Cultural Sociology, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22035/jous.2024.5062.1043

Abstract

Contrary to widely conceived notions, university as an institution does not contribute much in fostering professionals and guaranteeing vocational and financial successes. Such is a result of pathological development in relation to higher education. This paper, using narrative review method, looks into the contributions of women in university, including developing the academia as well as opportunities and problems they come across. Over the years, women’s academic life has been investigated widely with many articles primarily focusing on the causes of significant increase in number of girls’ enrolment in universities and what are the motivating factors. Also, given the unemployment of educated women, some articles addressed the factors contributing to this issue. A significant number of papers have also discussed the impact of higher education on empowering women. With the increase in female graduates, several papers have been published on gender inequality in academia. It seems that over time investigating the role of women in university has been moved from comparing facts and figures of women in various disciplines to a deeper investigation into their academic life. However, addressing the challenges of female students continue but in a subjective form. Talking about women without any difference, social classes, ethnic affiliations, age differences, social attitudes, and cultural preferences are not present in these articles. Additionally, none of these papers have addressed recent developments in transformation of university as commodification. They looked into its cultural effects such as drop in scientific level and cultural atmosphere of universities, increase in plagiarism, getting degrees without any scientific motives (with motives such as occupational promotion, social prestige, and versatility in life), making academic career unstable, and low numbers of faculty members.

Keywords

women

higher education

university

commodification

culture

empowerment

Subjects

University as a cultural and Social Institution

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