Persistent Gender Gaps Challenge Psychology Equality in Spain

Despite women comprising a significant majority of psychology students and professionals in Spain, substantial gender disparities remain in leadership, pay, and career progression within the field. Women represent 77.2% of psychology students and over 80% of those in clinical specialization programs, yet only 24.4% of female PhD holders attain leadership positions in academia, according to the 'She Figures 2024' report. This reflects a pronounced 'glass ceiling' where women struggle to achieve roles of greater responsibility and visibility despite their academic qualifications.

The wage disparity is notable, with women in psychology earning on average 9.2% less per hour than men, equivalent to 33 days of unpaid work annually. This gap spans all sectors and widens in positions of higher responsibility. Moreover, many women leave academic research careers earlier than men—a phenomenon known as the 'leaky pipeline'—which limits their access to leadership roles despite comparable performance to male colleagues.

February 11, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, serves as a moment to spotlight these inequalities and advocate for policies promoting gender equality in psychology. Suggested measures include improving female visibility in leadership, ensuring transparent pay structures, and encouraging young girls to pursue scientific careers.

While the presence of women in psychology is at a historic high, this numerical dominance has yet to translate into equality in salary, power, or institutional influence in Spain. Experts call for collective efforts to dismantle persistent structural barriers and create an equitable professional environment for women in psychology.