Constructing a Career in a Changing World: Women’s Career Processes and Barriers

The aim of this study was to examine the career experiences of early-career women teachers and the career barriers they encounter within the context of the changing world of work. The study was conducted using a qualitative research approach, and the data were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. The participants consisted of 12 early-career women teachers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The analysis identified three main themes related to the participants’ career experiences: Uncertain and Fragile Career Experiences, Psychological Pressures of Digital Working Life, and Relational Dynamics in Career Processes. Findings regarding career barriers were organized under two overarching themes: Structural Barriers and Personal Challenges. The findings indicate that women teachers experience their career processes within the context of uncertainty, future anxiety, performance pressure, and relational responsibilities, such as striving to balance work and family life. Participants identified working conditions, perceptions of the glass ceiling, and safety concerns as major structural barriers limiting their career development, while concerns about adapting to technological changes emerged as a significant personal challenge. In addition, some participants with experience in digital working environments reported that blurred work–life boundaries, pressure to remain constantly visible accessible, and digital fatigue negatively affected their career experiences.