Abstract

In this article we present some findings of a qualitative and biographical-narrative research, aimed at understanding the development of trajectories of female academics in chilean universities. To this end, we conducted in-depth biographical interviews with nine female academics, and we analyzed their experiences using a model that combined the analysis of biographical events with structural narrative analysis. Various events that have affected the experiences of women in academics were identified, and four types of academic trajectories were distinguished. We were able to observe that women entered academia at different points of their trajectories, but in general, they have all experienced significant events. For most of them the trajectory has been unstable, complex and dynamic. Therefore, we can see that women build their trajectories in the framework of great obstacles and challenges in a gendered institutional context.