Abstract

This article has been prepared to examine and analyse the barriers and challenges that women face on the path to leadership in higher education. Research shows that although education is considered to be a female-dominated field of activity, leadership positions are predominantly male.  The research has demonstrated that the reasons for the unequal distribution of leadership positions are social stereotypes, patriarchal traditions, psychological barriers to women, lack of support and underdeveloped mentoring institutes. Education is an institution where moral values, basic knowledge about social justice, equal rights and opportunities are laid down. For this reason, the authors of the article propose to consider including the issue of promoting gender equality in education in the agenda. The authors suggest that the study of gender inequality problems should be conducted on a continuous basis in all spheres, including education, in order to develop proposals and recommendations for state bodies. Thus, gender policy should be pursued through the improvement of legal and regulatory documents and the inclusion of gender-oriented courses in the higher education system.