S International Journal of Arts, Science and Humanities http://www.shanlaxjournals.com 39 Challenges and Impediments faced by Women College Teachers in Madurai District Sheela P. Karthick Part-Time Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Women’s Studies Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1493-4564 B. Dharmalingam Chair Professor, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Chair Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India Abstract While the teachers in higher education are provided with academic rights and freedom, they are expected to maintain certain standards of responsible professional conduct and growth; otherwise, academic mission established for the progress of society will be at stake. They have to necessarily understand their role of enhancing learning among the students, extending their knowledge of the subject constantly, conducting research in their eld to promote utilitarian purpose of education and nally getting awarded for all their service and research in due means. Also, the role of college teachers has changed from mere teaching to curriculum designing, research, publication, e-content writing, conducting online classes, collaborative research, exchange programme, extension activity, add-on/certicate course designing, arranging internship, etc. They have to necessarily come out of their comfort zone; many college teachers nd it really challenging to accomplish this change in role expectations while some cross those impediments and emerge achievers. The plight of women college teachers is more challenging and particular due to their gender and the discrimination based on that. The present research proposes to study the challenges and impediments faced by a Government, a Government-Aided and a Self-nancing Arts and Science Colleges are selected for the study and the ndings through administering of questionnaire are analysed in this paper. Keywords: Women College Teachers, Change in Role Expectations, Challenges, Impediments Justication of the Problem Collegiate teaching is identified as a “Meta-Profession” expecting the teachers to be performing the following activities in addition to the regular teaching: “advising, curriculum development, assessment, service, administration, leadership, team membership, strategic planning, communication, and entrepreneurship” (Arreola 2000). The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has the same as its vision: “To make quality the defining element of higher education in India through a combination of self and external quality evaluation, promotion and sustenance initiatives” (naac.gov.in) by assessing the Higher Education Institutes based on the seven criteria (as shown in the picture) which necessitate the contribution of the college teachers by greater efforts. While all teachers face many different but new challenges women college teachers encounter the same challenges in a different way, due to the gender roles expected of them. OPEN ACCESS Manuscript ID: ASH-2023-10046170 Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Month: April Year: 2023 P-ISSN: 2321-788X E-ISSN: 2582-0397 Received: 06.01.2023 Accepted: 20.03.2023 Published: 01.04.2023 Citation: Karthick, Sheela P., and B. Dharmalingam. “Challenges and Impediments Faced by Women College Teachers in Madurai District.” Shanlax International Journal of Arts Science and Humanities, vol. 10, no. 4, 2023, pp. 39–46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34293/ sijash.v10i4.6170 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License