GENDER AND HIGHER EDUCATION: EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES OF INTERNATIONAL FEMALE FACULTY IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

Gender inequality in higher education has been identified as one of the concerning issues around the world. Despite the fact that the faculty and student body within academia are mainly comprised of women, there is a significant discrepancy in salary distribution and leadership positions between male and female professors. Moreover, it is important to note that in spite of attempts to retain women in historically male-dominated departments such as STEM, women are heavily under-represented in these fields. Kazakhstan has been attemptingto respond to the global gender equality policies as well as the demands of internationalization and globalization in higher education by enacting gender equality and inclusion initiatives; however, research on gender inequality and experiences of international female faculty in particular is still significantly under-represented.