Women on wings: Motivations, experiences, and aspirations

This is a descriptive study about the motivating and sustaining as well as the risk factors encountered by both student and licensed pilot. Twelve respondents were selected for the study with six for each type of woman pilot. Interviews used one-on-one in-depth interview to gather sufficient data and an in-depth analysis was provided for each type of women pilots, in order to know respondent\u27s individual answer. The study examines the economic, socio-cultural, and occupational status as well as the prestige that each pilot attains. In addition, this study focuses on gender inequality and sexual harassment as forms of discrimination. Likewise, their future career goals were also tackled. The study was conducted at two flying institutions in the Philippines (namely: Philippine Air Force and Air Link International Aviation School) where all the respondents are from. Findings indicate that women pilots have different and similar experiences upon the various factors given. It also shows that women are motivated to join the labor force, particularly a male-oriented field like piloting because of a number of reasons, which included prestige, status and income. Results also sighted that discrimination and gender inequality in such fields are inevitable. Therefore, based on their experiences, they have different ways in dealing with each factor. The different level of experience also affected their perception towards piloting. These variables help determine a woman\u27s role in a male dominated environment like piloting