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This paper explores to what extent individual, organizational and social factors determine academic trajectories, controlling for socio-demographic variables such as sex and academic rank. For this, a correlational study was developed in a convenience sample of academics from the Federico II University of Naples, in Italy (N = 228, 55.3 % men and 44.7 % women), between 21 and 67 years old (M = 51.7, SD = 9.2), with the use of descriptive statistics and multiple correspondence analysis. The results show two differentiated tendencies: (1) that of male and full-professors, and (2) that of women and middle and early-career levels. The first group perceive less difficulties and value personal (Model 1, 53.9 % of variance) and family success (Model 2, 50.3 % of variance) factors more. Barriers such as the influence of informal power networks (Model 3, 42.7 % of variance) and family issues, as work-life balance (Model 4 and 5, 50.2 % and 59.9 % of variance), are perceived with greater intensity by the second group. The results highlight the importance of measures for equal opportunities in academia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]