International Women’s Day is an important day celebrated every year on March 8, emphasizing women’s rights, gender equality, and the critical role women play in social life. This day, which emerged in memory of the strike launched by women textile workers in New York in 1857 to demand better working conditions and equal production, has evolved over time into a global equality and justice movement.

However, it is not possible to think of women’s rights separately from other human rights and animal rights. In a society where women are treated unfairly, it is seen that injustices against other social groups and nature are also widespread. There are still serious problems regarding women’s access to equal rights, including in the academic world. Gender inequalities continue in academic career paths, and female academics face more obstacles than their male colleagues.

Women in Academia: Glass Ceiling and Inequalities

Although the proportion of female academics is increasing in various countries around the world, their rates of reaching academic management positions or professorships are still low. According to European and US data, the proportion of women in academia is around 45-50% at the doctoral level, while this rate drops to 20-25% at the professorial level. This situation reveals the existence of structural barriers, known as the “glass ceiling“, that prevent women from reaching high positions.

Women in academia receive less funding than men and may face discrimination in terms of publication and academic promotion opportunities. At the same time, balancing motherhood and career in academia becomes difficult, and this situation poses a major obstacle, especially for women academics in their early careers.

Women Academicians and Academic Freedom

Women academics face not only gender discrimination in their careers, but also restrictions on academic freedom. In authoritarian regimes and countries where academic freedoms are suppressed, female academics may be subject to greater pressure when they express critical thoughts. In addition, academics who address issues such as gender and women’s rights in their academic work may be subject to censorship or administrative pressure.

Steps to be Taken for Equality and Inclusion

To ensure gender equality in academia, important steps need to be taken at both institutional and societal levels:

• Equal Opportunity Policies: Academic institutions should offer supportive funding programs, mentoring systems, and flexible working conditions to female academics.
• Preventing Gender-Based Discrimination: Policies that increase transparency in appointment and promotion processes should be implemented, and greater representation of female academics in management positions should be encouraged.
• Supporting Academic Freedom: Academic institutions and international organizations need to strengthen their solidarity mechanisms so that female academics can freely express their critical thoughts.

March 8th should not only be a day of celebration, but also a day that reminds us of the necessity of defending human rights and social justice in all areas, including the academic world. Defending women’s rights means defending all human rights. A more equal, fair and inclusive academic world requires joint efforts!