Gender (In)equality in aviation academia in Australia and New Zealand: Challenges, progress, and future directions

Gender inequality within the aviation industry has been widely acknowledged, yet the academic environments responsible for aviation education have received limited empirical attention. This study provides one of the first comprehensive examinations of gender inequality in aviation academia in Australia and New Zealand, an interdisciplinary and industry-linked field situated at the intersection of engineering/STEM, management, and the social sciences. Using a mixed-methods design, the study integrates survey responses from 29 aviation academics with in-depth interviews conducted with 20 academics across seven universities. The findings reveal clear gender differences in perceptions and experiences of equity, inclusion, and career progression. Male academics were generally more likely to perceive their institutions as equitable and inclusive, whereas women academics reported greater exposure to subtle forms of exclusion, unequal workload expectations, limited leadership representation, and career impacts associated with caregiving responsibilities. Qualitative findings further suggest that aviation academia inherits aspects of the broader aviation industry's historically male-dominated culture, while also operating within academic structures that continue to privilege uninterrupted career progression, technical credibility, and traditional leadership norms. The study demonstrates that gender inequality within aviation academia is shaped through the interaction of institutional structures, disciplinary cultures, and informal organisational practices. The findings highlight the importance of discipline-specific equity initiatives, transparent and equitable promotion practices, mentoring opportunities, and inclusive leadership pathways in supporting more equitable academic environments within aviation education.