Amazing Ratio of Female Academics in Turkey

Content Summary

The article will specify the number of female academics in the world and in Turkey. We will discuss the level of ratio of female academics to male academics.

For the last 20 years, especially in Europe, there has been an upward trend in terms of gender equality. While the rate of female academicians in Europe was 30% 20 years ago, today this rate is 41%. Norway, in particular, has made great progress in this regard. Today, 55% of female among engineers and academics in Norway. Twenty years ago, this figure was around 30%. According to Eurostat’s data for 2019, you can see the country by country status below.

According to Eurostat data, female dominate in only 5 European countries (Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Bulgaria), while male dominate in the rest. Considering the general situation, although the living conditions of Bulgaria are lower than those of Norway, Lithuania and Latvia, it can be thought that the positive differentiation is related to the past socialism experience that gives importance to the equality of women and men.

The worst-performing countries are countries like Luxembourg, Hungary, and Germany, where, surprisingly, their wealth is relatively high. However, there are also says where Germany is over fifty percent regionally.

Another interesting result is the gender inequality in the academic system of countries such as Finland, which scored the highest in international student assessment programs.

Increasing Ratio of Female Academics

Looking at the year 1999, there was an incredible increase in the proportion of female academics in some European countries, while in others there was a dramatic decrease. For example, in Switzerland, the rate of female academicians was 10.7% in 1999, while it increased by 30.6% in 20 years to 41.3%. The rate in France has increased from 28.9% to 46.1%. However, Finland had a small majority ratio of 50.9% female academics in 1999, but dropped drastically to 30.5%. In Estonia, the rate has dropped from 52.4% to 43.6% in 2019.

Of course, it is also important how much female are involved in this business not only quantity but also in quality. We know that female in the service sector show a balanced distribution with 46% according to Eurostat, but this rate drops to 21% in the field of engineering and academia in the production line.

Ratio of Female Academics in Turkey

Turkey’s ratio of female academics ranks 17th with a rate of 44.24% female academics. There are three regions where female are in the majority (Central Anatolia 51.9%, Mediterranean 50.9% and Northeast Anatolia 50%).

This means that those female students, whom we always find more diligent, grew up and became academicians. Of course, the important thing is quality, not quantity, and there are a lot of ways to go, but although Turkey have controversial policies in terms of equal opportunity(1) in academia, we are not at a bad point in terms of equality of men and women.

Academic Success and Happiness

However, these rates are not enough to cover that Turkey is a serious problem. We all hear the harassment suffered by women in relation to the academic environment in Turkey. Sometimes these are brought to the judiciary, and sometimes they are covered. In the academic world, where a country is represented at the highest level, Turkey must be sensitive to similar events and provide an environment where those hard-working girls can easily receive education and carry out scientific production without being harassed or oppressed.

Turkey should not avoid self-criticism in every field. However, it is not as bad as it was described. He should trust his country and people. If it can make the educational environments and related conditions safer and more comfortable, it will take a serious step towards becoming a democratic society.

Footnote

Equal Academic Opportunity(1): Each individual has an equal opportunity to receive postgraduate education and be appointed to academic staff.

Resources

https://bigthink.com/amp/women-in-science-2650543204?rebelltitem=2&__twitter_impression=true

http://www.meb.gov.tr/meb_iys_dosyalar/2019_12/03105347_PISA_2018_Turkiye_On_Raporu.pdf

https://www.oecd.org/pisa/