Gender barriers in academia are a set of obstacles that limit women's equal participation in academia. These barriers can manifest themselves in various forms, from cultural expectations and gender stereotypes to institutional policies and everyday practices. The objective of the study is to analyze the perceptions of female academics in management positions in a state university in Chile on gender barriers to leadership development in public universities. The study used a qualitative and descriptive methodology, interpreting the reality as expressed by the volunteer participants. The main results identified significant barriers to female leadership, highlighting the perception of gender inequality and difficulties in participation and decision-making. The interviews revealed that, although gender policies have been implemented in Chilean universities, challenges persist, such as institutional culture, to ensure true equality of opportunity and development of women in university leadership positions. The findings suggest considerations that may be useful in developing more inclusive strategies in university management.