"The women beneath our wings": The lived experiences of women air traffic controllers in Iloilo

Abstract

This study explored the lived experiences of women air traffic controllers working at Iloilo International Airport; which especially explored the male-dominated field of aviation, with not many people knowing the existence of the job of an air traffic controller and the presence of women in this field. These unsung heroes of the sky are responsible for keeping the passengers safe by guiding the pilots in navigating the airspace which can be stressful when fatigue and mental stress accumulate. This study used a purposive sampling strategy to select (4) four participants. The researchers utilized a descriptive phenomenological method by using a semi-structured interview that was conducted face-to-face at Iloilo International Airport along with the consent of the participants to collect detailed information from them. After gathering and saturating the data, thematic analysis was then used to analyze and interpret the lived experiences of the participants. The study's findings show the women's lived experiences with their career growth, work challenges, work issues related to motherhood, and gender related issues within the workplace. They expressed multiple motivational factors as to why they stayed in the job, but also highlighted certain acts of discrimination they have experienced during their time as an Air Traffic Controller and the things they do to cope with such situations. Further study is suggested due to the lack of research in this field as well as workplace considerations for women Air Traffic Controllers.