Questionnaire and Rationale
Questionnaire
1) Can you tell me about your background and how you first became involved in the aviation industry?
a) (If the participant has not discussed her own cultural background, bring this up to obtain more information on the persons own culture by asking): What is your culture or ethnicity in relation to others in the aviation industry in which you work?
b) (If the participant has discussed her own cultural or ethnic background, dig a little deeper by asking): What are some significant signs or ways that you might demonstrate or manifest your own culture or ethnicity within the industry on a day-to-day basis?
Rationale: This question aims to understand the respondent's personal journey and experiences in the aviation industry. This could provide insights into any potential barriers or facilitators they encountered, which can be cross-checked with literature about common experiences of women in the industry. Understanding the participant's journey into the aviation industry helps to understand the diversity of pathways into the aviation field (Marete et al., 2022).
2) In your experience, can you describe any gender-based challenges or issues that you have faced as a female leader in the aviation industry?
Rationale: This question directly addresses gender-based challenges in the aviation industry, a common theme in the literature and will give access to firsthand accounts so as to ascertain the applicability of the documented challenges (Neal-Smith, 2016; Yan?ko?lu, et al., 2020).
3) How have you navigated these challenges, and what strategies have you found to be effective in overcoming them?
a) (follow-up): Is work-life balance important to you?
b) (follow-up): Is work-life balance a problem for you? If so, why? If not, why not?
c) (follow-up): Do you feel supported in terms of having a strong network of allies in the industry or outside the industry?
Rationale: This question is important to understand the coping mechanisms and strategies used by women in the industry to overcome gender-based challenges, as identified in research by Jogulu and Franken (2023). Answers may be helpful in highlighting strategies used to navigate gender-based challenges and may provide evidence for the effectiveness or inefficiency of methods discussed in the literature
4) Have you noticed any differences in the challenges or issues faced by female pilots versus female executives or leaders in the aviation industry?
a) (If not, skip question 5)
b) (If so, ask the participant for a description of these challenges or examples that they have witnessed or heard about)
Rationale: This question is asked to examine if there are differences in the experiences of women depending on their roles within the aviation industry. This question aims to distinguish the differences in gender-based challenges faced...
…are unique to the aviation industry, compared to other sectors, when it comes to promoting gender diversity and inclusion?
Rationale: This question probes the uniqueness of the aviation industry in terms of gender diversity, a topic addressed in the literature (Turney, 2000).
13) In your opinion, what role do organizations and industry associations have in promoting gender diversity and inclusion in the aviation industry, and what steps have you seen organizations take to address this issue?
Rationale: This question aims to gather insights into the role of industry organizations in promoting gender diversity, a topic addressed by studies such as Lutte (2019).
14) Have you personally had any experiences with mentorship or sponsorship programs for women in the aviation industry, and if so, what impact did they have on your career?
Rationale: This question is designed to gauge the effectiveness of mentorship and sponsorship programs, a subject of ongoing research (Ayman and Korabik, 2010; Lee et al., 2020;).
15) Looking to the future, how do you see the role of women in leadership positions in the aviation industry evolving over the next decade, and what do you think needs to happen to ensure progress in this area?
Rationale: This question aims to gather insights into the future of female leadership in the aviation industry, a subject of interest for researchers and practitioners alike (Lutte,…
