An Investigation into the Challenges Women in Managerial Roles Face in Reaching Higher Levels of Management.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to look into why there are not more women in senior
levels of management within businesses, and more specifically investigating the
challenges they may face in reaching the upper levels of management. The data
collected will be analysed to determine the areas of biggest challenge to women’s
progression.
Design and Methodology
A qualitative approach was selected for this dissertation, with semi-structured
interviews chosen as the data collection method. Twelve women, of any age, from
across the UK, were selected as the sample, from a range of backgrounds from Team
Manager, to Heads of Department, to Executive Director, to give a wide scope for
analysis of the challenges faced by these women.
Findings
The findings within this study have shown that there are several main themes and
challenges that can hold women back from reaching upper levels of management;
their own confidence issues and imposter syndrome, family roles and acceptability of
paternity leave, unconscious bias and second-generation gender bias, perception of
masculine and feminine traits in managers, and lack role models higher up in the
company to aspire to.