Gender and Development Policies in Aviation: A Systematic Literature Review

Jonah Gonzalo; Ma. Theresa Dumdumaya; Marites Binay; Shella Fanoga; Ma. Jinky Gomez

doi:10.59653/ijmars.v4i01.2000

Authors

Jonah Gonzalo National Aviation Academy of the Philippines, Philippines
Ma. Theresa Dumdumaya National Aviation Academy of the Philippines, Philippines https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5951-6787
Marites Binay National Aviation Academy of the Philippines, Philippines https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0655-5507
Shella Fanoga National Aviation Academy of the Philippines, Philippines https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8159-4397
Ma. Jinky Gomez National Aviation Academy of the Philippines, Philippines https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6920-5200

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59653/ijmars.v4i01.2000

Keywords:

Gender Equity, Aviation Workforce Diversity, Development Policies, Inclusive Leadership, Sustainable Aviation

Abstract

This literature review examines gender and development policies within the aviation sector. This paper gives emphasis to the persistent disparities and evaluating policy frameworks that aim to promote equity and inclusion. With a systematic review framework, relevant peer-reviewed literature, industry reports, and policy documents to capture data regarding the workforce representation, organizational culture, and regulatory practices, data was synthesized. Findings suggest significant underrepresentation of women and these are particularly in technical and leadership roles which are driven by socio-cultural barriers, organizational biases, and policy implementation gaps. The findings imply that the underrepresentation of women in technical and leadership positions is a result of socio-cultural factors, organizational discrimination, and inadequate policy implementation. In contrast, high-level standards of governance and weaker shadowing frameworks, ICAO, IATA and UNWTO do all exhibit gender-friendly governance strategies. This paper brings to light the need for holistic approaches through which intervention policy, inclusive leadership, technology reform and governance participation can take root. Suggestions are made to establish strong evaluation systems, advance stakeholder cooperation and interplay, and furthering gender sensitive strategies in sustainability plans in order to build a balanced and flexible aviation workforce.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abram, S., Atkins, E., Dietzel, A., Jenkins, K., Kiamba, L., Kirshner, J., … Santos Ayllón, L. M. (2022). Just Transition: A whole-systems approach to decarbonisation. Climate Policy, 22(8), 1033–1049. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2022.2108365

Arab News. (2025, April 28). Saudi aviation surpasses localization goals, boosts women in leadership. Arab News.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2598783/business-economy

Bertelli, A. M., & Schwartz, L. J. (2022). Public administration and democracy. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009217613

Bianchi, R. V., & de Man, F. (2020). Tourism, inclusive growth and decent work: a political economy critique. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(2–3), 353–371. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1730862

Butler, C., Marsh, S., Domitrovich, J. W., & Helmkamp, J. (2017). Wildland firefighter deaths in the United States: A comparison of existing surveillance systems. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 14(4), 258–270. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2016.1250004

Callcut, M., Agliozzo, J. C., Varga, L., & McMillan, L. (2021). Digital twins in civil infrastructure systems. Sustainability, 13(20), 11549. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132011549

Durepos, G., McKinlay, A., & Taylor, S. (2017). Narrating histories of women at work: Archives, stories, and the promise of feminism. Business History, 59(8), 1261–1279. https://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2016.1276900

Elbanna, S., & Fatima, T. (2022). Quantifying people in the GCC region: the uses, challenges, and efficacy of the quota system policy. Human Resource Development International, 26(3), 292–316. https://doi.org/10.1080/13678868.2022.2116260

Feather, J., Hall, L. M., Trbovich, P., & Baker, G. R. (2018). An integrative review of nurses’ prosocial behaviours contributing to work environment optimization, organizational performance and quality of care. Journal of Nursing Management, 26(7), 769–781. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12600

Gagné, M., Parker, S.K., Griffin, M.A. et al. Understanding and shaping the future of work with self-determination theory. Nat Rev Psychol 1, 378–392 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-022-00056-w

Greenwald, A. G., Dasgupta, N., Dovidio, J. F., Kang, J., Moss-Racusin, C. A., & Teachman, B. A. (2022). Implicit-Bias Remedies: Treating Discriminatory Bias as a Public-Health Problem. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 23(1), 7-40. https://doi.org/10.1177/15291006211070781

International Labour Organization. (2025, July 15). Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all. https://www.ilo.org/

International Air Transport Association. (2024a). 25by2025 – Advancing diversity, equity & inclusion by 2025. https://www.iata.org/en/about/our-commitment/25-by-2025/

International Air Transport Association. (2024b). Gender in aviation: 25by2025 initiative report. IATA. https://www.iata.org/contentassets/cd7f1170cbf447c7824f63e8d138e5d0/gender-in-aviation-final.pdf

International Air Transport Association. (2022). Fatigue risk management implementation guide for operators (FRM). IATA. https://www.iata.org/en/programs/ops-infra/fatigue-risk-management/

International Air Transport Association. (2024c). Net Zero roadmaps. IATA. https://www.iata.org/en/programs/sustainability/roadmaps/

‌International Civil Aviation Organization. (2021). ICAO safety report: 2021 edition. ICAO.

https://www.icao.int/safety/Documents/ICAO%20Safety%20Report%202021%20Edition.pdf

International Civil Aviation Organization. (2023). Gender equality and diversity in aviation: ICAO initiatives. ICAO. https://www.icao.int/gender-equality-and-icao

International Civil Aviation Organization. (n.d.). Gender equality programme. https://www.icao.int/sustainability/Pages/gender-equality.aspx

Lieu, J., Sorman, A. H., Johnson, O. W., Virla, L. D., & Resurrección, B. P. (2020). Three sides to every story: Gender perspectives in energy transition pathways in Canada, Kenya and Spain. Energy Research & Social Science, 68, 101550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101550

Oecd. (2021). The inequalities-environment nexus. In Oecd Green Growth Papers. https://doi.org/10.1787/ca9d8479-en

Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., . . . Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71

Parker, S. K., & Grote, G. (2019). Automation, Algorithms, and Beyond: Why work design matters more than ever in a digital world. Applied Psychology, 71(4), 1171–1204. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12241

Pasha, T., & Stokes, P. R. A. (2018). Reflecting on the Germanwings disaster: A Systematic review of depression and suicide in commercial airline pilots. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00086

Querstret, D., O’Brien, K., Skene, D. J., & Maben, J. (2019). Improving fatigue risk management in healthcare: A systematic scoping review of sleep-related/fatigue-management interventions for nurses and midwives. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 106, 103513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.103513

SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. (n.d.). UN Women – Headquarters. https://www.unwomen.org/en/node/36060

Skea, J., Shukla, P. R., Reisinger, A., Slade, R., Pathak, M., Khourdajie, A. A., Van Diemen, R., Abdulla, A., Akimoto, K., Babiker, M., Bai, Q., Bashmakov, I. A., Bataille, C., Berndes, G., Blanco, G., Blok, K., Bustamante, M., Byers, E., Cabeza, L. F., . . . Winkler, H. (2023). Summary for policymakers. In Cambridge University Press eBooks (pp. 3–48). https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157926.001

Smith, Z. B. (2021, December 22). Vision 2050. International Council on Clean Transportation.

https://theicct.org/video-vision-2050/

Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

United Nations World Tourism Organization, & UN Women. (2019). Global report on women in tourism (2nd ed.). https://www.unwto.org/publication/global-report-women-tourism-2-edition

Van Barneveld, K., Quinlan, M., Kriesler, P., Junor, A., Baum, F., Chowdhury, A., Junankar, P., Clibborn, S., Flanagan, F., Wright, C. F., Friel, S., Halevi, J., & Rainnie, A. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons on building more equal and sustainable societies. The Economic and Labour Relations Review, 31(2), 133–157. https://doi.org/10.1177/1035304620927107

Waite, A. M., & McDonald, K. S. (2018). Exploring Challenges and Solutions Facing STEM Careers in the 21st Century: A Human Resource Development Perspective. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 21(1), 3-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/1523422318814482 (Original work published 2019)