Female Flight Students: Perceptions of Barriers and Gender Biases within Collegiate Flight Programs

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the existence and extent of barriers and gender biases that propagate the under representation of females in collegiate aviation programs. Focusing on female flight students' personal perceptions of their collegiate aviation programs, four research questions were formulated and the findings were supported by using descriptive statistics. This study found: female flight students believed that the under representation of female flight students should be a primary concern for their collegiate aviation program; female flight students do not believe that negative remarks or biases due to gender exist within their collegiate flight program; female flight students do not believe there is a sufficient number of female professionals employed at their collegiate flight program; and that female flight students do believe that both scholarships and internships specifically offered for female flight students are adequately available from their collegiate flight programs. Women have remained underutilized and underrepresented as professional pilots in the United States air carrier industry. If the trend of under representation of females in collegiate flight programs remains unchanged, women will continue to account for a decreased role within the aviation industry.