A participação feminina em cargos de direção em uma instituição federal de ensino superior

Abstract

The research investigated the advances and challenges faced by women in accessing and remaining in hierarchically superior positions at the Federal University of Paraná from 2010 to 2023. The central objective was to understand the structural and symbolic barriers that hinder women’s ascent to university leadership. A qualitative approach was adopted based on 13 interviews with staff members from both academic and technical-administrative careers who held strategic and leadership roles, including rectors, vice-rectors, pro-rectors, and sector directors. The narratives were analyzed in light of feminist studies and the concepts of gender, sexual division of labor, domestic work, and glass ceiling, organized into two categories: domestic work and management, and professional advancement: perceptions and feelings. The results indicated that women continue to be burdened by caregiving activities and face both explicit and symbolic gender discrimination, perpetuating inequalities within the academic environment. We observed that the sexual division of labor acts as a structuring mechanism that limits women’s autonomy and reinforces feelings of guilt among women who take on these challenges in their careers. Participants reported experiences of verbal, physical, and symbolic violence, as well as institutional silencing in the face of gender inequalities. We conclude that the low representation of women in decision-making positions is not merely an issue of access but a phenomenon that sustains male hegemony and reproduces power asymmetries in public universities. We hope that this study can contribute to the discussion on the low representation of women in leadership positions in public service and the adoption of effective gender equity policies as a pathway towards more equitable participation of men and women in academic management settings.