Overview of doctoral research in art education in Andalusia: Gender and topics

Abstract

This study analyzes the participation of women in doctoral theses on education and art carried out at public universities in Andalusia, with the aim of understanding gender patterns, researched topics, and academic production trends. The theoretical framework highlights the relevance of art in education for fostering creativity, critical thinking, and inclusion, as well as the importance of examining doctoral theses as reflections of academic and cultural dynamics. The methodology used was descriptive and qualitative, based on documentary analysis and bibliometric techniques applied to 83 theses extracted from the TESEO database, considering variables such as university, year, gender of authors, directors, and committee members, as well as thematic descriptors. The results show that most theses are concentrated in the field of Education, with pedagogy serving as the central axis; although some universities show notable female participation among authors, there remains a significant gender imbalance in leadership and committee roles, predominantly held by men. Additionally, there is a thematic concentration in education and music, while fields such as educational technology and social sciences are underrepresented, highlighting the need to diversify research lines in this area.