Unequal Advancement: Gender Disparities and the Glass Ceiling in Italian Academia

This study investigates gender inequalities in academic career progression at a leading Southern Italian university over the period 2009–2019. Using a mixed-method approach that combines descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis, we examine vertical and horizontal segregation patterns affecting women’s representation and advancement in academia. We find a persistent glass ceiling effect, whereby women are significantly less likely than men to be promoted to full professor. Horizontal segregation also remains pronounced, particularly in STEM fields, where women remain underrepresented. These results highlight the need for institutional policies that go beyond numerical gender parity, addressing qualitative barriers such as evaluation biases and structural constraints related to work-life balance.