Uncertainty in career development

This study examines uncertainty in the career trajectories of women faculty members in Szeged, with particular attention to the challenges of balancing work and personal life. We conducted semi-structured interviews with women faculty members at the University of Szeged, initially focusing on the balance between career and family roles. During the research process, however, it became clear how central uncertainty was to their narratives and how closely it was connected to childbearing, contractual insecurity, and professional self-esteem. Our analysis therefore placed uncertainty at the center and examined the domains in which it emerges, the ways in which women faculty members cope with it, and how all of this is related to their position as women academics. This issue is especially important because inequality of opportunity is evident in academic careers, uncertainty can undermine mental health, and the coping strategies presented here tend to preserve the vulnerability of women researchers.

Career development · Inequality · Narrative · Doctoral Education Challenges and Solutions · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Work-Family Balance Challenges