Contrasting gender gaps and discrimination in Italian academia: insights from an exploratory study at the University of Milano-Bicocca

Despite the progress made in recent years, achieving gender equality within academia remains a major challenge. Existing literature demonstrates how women’s careers progress more slowly than men’s, resulting in significant under-representation of women in senior academic positions and disparities in salaries and contracts. This phenomenon transcends disciplinary boundaries, impacting fields traditionally associated with a female majority, such as psychology, the human sciences, and education. Moreover, gender segregation persists in academic literature, evident in disparities in scientific productivity and citation indices. Using a framework informed by gender studies and critical psychology, the present study explores how gender inequalities are perceived, counteracted or (in)voluntarily perpetuated within the daily work of research and teaching within a department of the University of Milano-Bicocca. More specifically, employing a systematic analysis of academic curricula, lecturer demographics, and course material, supplemented by self-report questionnaires and focus-group discussions (FGDs), the study examined awareness and perceptions of gender gaps within the Italian academy. Through this mixed-method approach, data were triangulated to delineate a complex and multifaceted picture of the structural gender biases still prevalent in the Italian academic landscape. Our findings contribute to ongoing efforts to address gender inequality in academic environments and systematically mitigate gender discrimination. By shedding light on the specific challenges faced within our institution, we aim to inform targeted interventions and policies aimed at fostering a more equitable and inclusive academic environment.