Going against the grain? Narratives of female academics

silences and challenges

Abstract

This article presents the main findings of a qualitative narrative research project whose objective was to analyze the experiences of twenty female academics from the Faculty of Psychology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico regarding their conditions
and experiences related to their gender. The research was conducted through interviews
aimed at inquiring about support networks, academic and administrative processes, factors that hinder or facilitate the academic career, work-related constraints, and expressions of gender-based violence. The academics’ narratives show that, while the explicit curriculum
prioritizes the eradication of gender-based violence and the creation of safe and egalitarian spaces, such violence persists in the so-called hidden curriculum. An example of this is the
assignment of a greater number of leadership positions to men, even though the teaching staff is predominantly made up of women. Likewise, their careers have been evaluated from a linear and uninterrupted perspective, ignoring the breaks they’ve had to take due to family care and maternity, which has impacted on their professional development and job stability. Ultimately, promoting a culture of reporting remains a challenge, as fear of retaliation, ignorance of the necessary procedures and protocols for handling complaints, and distrust of the processes and authorities responsible for following up on complaints persist, as influence peddling and nepotism are sometimes present.