Exploring the Hurdles faced by Emerging Female Researchers: Experiences and Reflections from Four Selected African Universities

Abstract

Over the past many years, research has been a preserve of the most elite academics but with very few female academics engaged in it. The trajectory is that institutions of higher learning should not only consume research products from other investigators but also produce their own new knowledge. Knowledge production makes a university highly recognised and rated on all levels, that is, locally, regionally and globally. Given that it is mandatory for academics to participate in research more especially the emerging female researchers in Africa, this paper explores the hurdles they face and how these can be resolved to promote paths for advancing knowledge in Africa and to allow meaningful knowledge production. Additionally, the paper proposes countermeasures that emerging female researchers can employ to overcome the obstacles they face. The study was informed by the Critical Theory. A qualitative exploratory and phenomenological study design was conducted in South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Twenty (20), purposively selected university academics (emerging female researchers) from these countries participated in the study. In-depth semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. Thematic frames were adopted for data analysis. The study discovered that there are financial, institutional, gender, and mentoring barriers, and it suggests that universities must incorporate women in all research activities in order to capitalise on their potential and viewpoints. The report suggests that universities should prioritise female participation in research by implementing mentorship programmes, financing, and gender sensitive policies for emerging female researchers.