Women Physical Education Teacher Education Faculty’s Experiences in Japan and the United States

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore women physical education teacher education faculty’s experiences in Japan and the United States, using an exploratory descriptive case study design. The conceptual framework of the faculty’s job satisfaction underpinned the study. A criterion sampling approach was employed to recruit participants. In total, seven Japanese and eight U.S. women faculty members took part in the study. Data were collected from a survey and a semistructured interview. The semistructured interviews served as the primary source of data. The survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the frequency of the responses was calculated. An inductive thematic analysis was employed to analyze the interview responses. Triangulation, member checking, and peer debriefing ensured the trustworthiness of the data. Relative to overall job satisfaction, the U.S. faculty tend to have higher satisfaction levels in teaching achievement, research expectations, and research productivity compared to Japanese faculty. Four themes were identified from the interview responses: (a) persisting social norms and stereotypes toward women, (b) women’s representation matters, (c) juggling dual roles of being faculty and a mother, and (d) lack of support for mothers at work. This study provided the first evidence of women faculty members’ experiences and perspectives in the field of physical education teacher education in Japan and the United States. Continuous discussion and effort are crucial to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.