<p dir="ltr">This two-paper dissertation focuses on gender equity in higher education in the United States, specifically on workplace gender equity. There is a lack of feminist research in the literature which can have significant consequences in the development of both higher education policy and practices, as a misunderstanding about the gendered nature of educational experiences may be linked to inadequate responses to the situation. Feminist research helps understand and provide recommendations for such experiences. As such, gender equality should not only be an ethical imperative but also an emphasis in higher education. To increase gender equality in higher education, this dissertation recommends that scholars focus on feminist research. The goal of this research is to understand how gender impacts a person working in higher education by investigating historical and contemporary gender-based identities and inequities in higher education in the United States. Hence, this dissertation answers the following questions: What strides have been made to reduce gender inequity in the workplace in higher education in the United States? How does gender impact a person's career trajectory into leadership positions in higher education? As a result, this research provides recommendations for administrators and policy makers to reduce gender inequity in higher education. </p>

Yes / The four theories—gendering of careers, glass ceiling, gender stereotypes and work-life balance—of the lack of inclusion of women in the technology sector have a certain face validity when looking at Nigeria, a historically patriarchal nation undergoing significant growth in penetration and diffusion in the technology sector. Consequently, this article is the first to further develop these theories through a critical realist exploration of the experiences of female senior managers in the Nigerian technology sector. The findings show that women technology leaders are ambitious and driven to scale the barriers to senior management roles. These four theories are extended by providing empirical data and insights into how this phenomenon is experienced differently in the Global South. The article recommends that organizations implement policies that support skilled and high-potential women employees to fulfill their career aspirations, thereby disrupting stereotypes and changing the dominant, masculine narrative of the technology industry. / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 19th Dec 2023. / Research Development Fund Publication Prize Award winner, June 2022.

This thesis analyzes the challenges faced by female and male leaders in implementing sustainable practices within the retail industry, with a specific focus on a case study involving leadership challenges at a Mexican retailer, referred to throughout as Retail-MX. It focuses on understanding gender-specific obstacles and the influence of organizational culture on sustainability efforts. The research questions guiding the analysis included the specific challenges experienced by female leaders, the role of organizational culture, and the differing perceptions of sustainability challenges between female and male leaders.  To address these questions, a tentative theoretical model was developed that integrates gender, leadership, and organizational culture theories. Data collection included interviews with female and male leaders at Retail-MX. The responses were analyzed using the Gioia method, identifying seventeen first-order concepts which were then grouped into seven second-order themes. These themes were further organized into four aggregate dimensions and analyzed through the lens of gender and leadership and organizational culture.  The findings were as follows: Female leaders at Retail-MX face unique challenges, including a lack of self-awareness, a preference for data-driven sustainability approaches, and a focus on long-term planning. The organizational culture supports a people-led, inclusive environment, but structural and cultural obstacles hinder women's career progression. Despite differing views on the urgency of sustainability—female leaders advocate for significant investments and immediate action. These findings led to revisions in the tentative theoretical model, resulting in the proposed theoretical model. This thesis concludes by highlighting practical, and theoretical, implications to provide actionable guidance for management at Retail-MX to assist in implementing sustainable practices within their teams.

Gender-segregated labor markets remain a barrier to economic equality, significantly con- tributing to the persistent income disparities between men and women. While extensive literature has documented the prevalent wage gaps, it often attributes these disparities to educational attainment, career tenure, and familial obligations. This thesis focuses on the Swedish Armed Forces, a predominantly male-dominated organization, providing unique insights into organizational structures not extensively documented in current lit- erature. Using individual-level data from Statistical Sweden, a linear regression analysis investigates the gender wage gap, followed by a quantile regression to further explore gender variations across the income distribution. The results reveal a significant gender wage gap, although it has decreased over time and can be explained by individual char- acteristics. Persistent wage disparities in the labor market can often be attributed to the ongoing gender segregation in certain professions, where women, as minorities, tend to earn less. This uneven distribution where men predominantly occupy higher-ranked and higher-paid positions, exacerbates the income inequality. This structural imbalance not only reflects existing societal norms but also highlights the economic impact of occupa- tional segregation, which continues to disadvantage women.

Inledning: Tidigare studier beskriver att karriärsutveckling handlar om vilken riktning en individ tar i sitt arbetsliv. Hur karriärsutveckling sker och vad som påverkar individen är olika för kvinnor och män. Tidigare studier visar att det finns både inre och yttre faktorer som påverkar en individs karriärsutveckling. Vidare visar tidigare studier också att familjesituation och homosocial reproduktion även påverkar en individs karriärsutveckling. Studier visar att kvinnor har svårare än män att utvecklas i sina karriärer och orsakerna till att kvinnorna har svårigheter kan bland annat bero på glastaket. Frågor om karriärsutveckling och inre och yttre faktorer, om karriärsutveckling och familjesituation, om karriärsutveckling och glastak samt karriärsutveckling och homosocial reproduktion ska därför besvaras i denna studie. De aktuella problemformuleringarna är; Hur sker karriärsutveckling för kvinnor och män inom detaljhandeln i Sverige för att nå en chefsposition? Vad påverkar kvinnor och män i deras karriärsutveckling inom detaljhandeln i Sverige?   Syften: Det övergripande syftet med studien är att beskriva och skapa förståelse för hur kvinnor och män i detaljhandeln utvecklas i sina karriärer och vad som påverkar karriärsutveckling. Syftet är också att jämföra om det föreligger några olikheter alternativt likheter mellan könen i deras karriärsutveckling till att nå en chefsposition.   Metod: En kvalitativ studie med en komparativ design där empirisk data är insamlad genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med individer på chefsposition i den svenska detaljhandeln.   Resultat: Resultaten i denna studie visar att det föreligger ett samband mellan vad som påverkar individen i sin karriärsutveckling och hur karriärsutveckling sker. Den inre drivkraften och den egna personligheten samt familjesituationen är det som främst tycks påverka individernas karriärsutveckling. Resultaten tyder också på att kvinnor inte uppmärksammar glastaket i sin karriärsutveckling och tycks därför inte hindras av glastaket. Denna studies resultat visar också att det som tycks vara viktigast vid rekrytering är att skapa en balans mellan könen, könet tycks därför vara av betydelse vid rekrytering. Studien beskriver även att karriärsutveckling i detaljhandeln tycks starta på en låg nivå i hierarkin och att individerna därefter succesivt avancerar uppåt.   Slutsatser: Det kan konstateras i denna studie att det som påverkar individernas karriärsutveckling är den inre drivkraften och personligheten. Det kan även konstateras att familjesituationen påverkar kvinnor och män i deras karriärsutveckling då partnern tar ett större ansvar för familjen. Kvinnor i detaljhandeln uppmärksammar och hindras inte av glastaket i sin karriärsutveckling och vid rekrytering är homosocial reproduktion inte förekommande, det som är viktigt är att uppnå balans mellan könen. Denna studie kan konstatera att karriärsutveckling i den svenska detaljhandeln startar lågt i hierarkin samt att kvinnor och män startar på ett likartat sätt. / Introduction: Previous studies describe career development as the different directions individuals take in their work. How a career development transpires and what influences individual face is different for women and men. Previous studies show that there are internal and external factors affecting the individual's career development. Further, previous studies also show that family situation and homosocial reproduction also affect an individual's career development. Studies show that women are less likely than men to develop in their careers and that they tend to face gender specific obstacles in their career development. Previous studies show that the reasons why women have difficulties may be due to the glass ceiling. Questions about career development and internal and external factors, about career development and family situation, career development and the glass ceiling as well as career development and homosocial reproduction is therefore to be answered. The issues regarded in this study are; how does career development of women and men in the retail sector in Sweden evolves to reach a management position? What affect men and women in their career development in the retail sector in Sweden?   Aims: The overall aim of the study is to describe and to create understanding of how women and men in the retail sector develop in their careers and what influences career development. The aim is also to compare whether there are any similarities alternatively differences between women and men in their career development into a management position.   Method: A qualitative study with a comparative design in which empirical data is collected through semi-structured interviews with individuals in management positions in the Swedish retail sector.   Results: The results of this study show that there is a connection between what affect the individual in their career development and how career development occur. One's own personality, the inner urge and the family situation is what primarily affect their career development. The results also suggest that women are not obstructed in their career development by the glass ceiling in their career development. This study shows that what was considered the most important in recruitment is to create a balance between the sexes, not to recruit a specific gender. The study shows that a career development in the retail sector starts at a low level in the hierarchy and that individuals evolve gradually thereafter.   Conclusions: The indications that affect individuals' career development are the internal driving force and personality. It is also evident that the family situation affects men and women in their career development since the partner is taking more responsibility. Women in retail doesn’t notice and are not obstructed by the glass ceiling in their career development and the recruitment isn’t affected by homosocial reproduction, it is important to achieve gender balance. This study finds that career development in the Swedish retail sector starts low in the hierarchy and that woman and men will start in a similar way.

Syftet med denna studie är att skapa en djupare förståelse för kvinnliga chefers upplevelser av möjligheter och hinder i sin karriär i en mansdominerad organisation. Vi vill även undersöka inom vilka livssfärer dessa hinder och möjligheter uppstår. Vi ställer frågor om hur kvinnliga chefer upplever sin karriär i en mansdominerad organisation samt vilka möjligheter och hinder de upplevt och stött på under sin karriär och hur kvinnliga chefer kan skapa en balans mellan de olika livssfärerna, arbetsliv och privatliv. Studien är av kvalitativ art och tar sig an syftet med inspiration från ett narrativt synsätt för att på bästa möjliga sätt förstå deltagarnas personliga berättelser. Datainsamlingsmetoden har skett genom ett tiotal semistrukturerade intervjuer där resultatet visade att möjligheter och hinder främst konstitueras i arbetsorganisationen, att betydelsen av stöd, både från chefer och från privatlivet visade sig vara betydelsefullt och att privatlivet inte påverkar karriären negativt i lika hög grad som karriären påverkar privatlivet. / The purpose of this study is to create a deeper understanding for women managers and how they have experience opportunities and obstacles during their career in a male-dominated organization. We would also examine in which part of life this opportunities and obstacles really exist. We are investigating questions about how women managers experience their career in a male-dominated industry, what opportunities and obstacles they met during their career and also how women managers create a work life balance. This study is based on qualitative data and aims to describe the purpose from a narrative approach. The data have been collected from ten unstructured interviews, the result showed that opportunities and obstacles mainly occurs inside the work organization, and that the support from managers, but also from the private life is very important. The result also showed that the private life does not affect the career negatively as much as career affect the private life.

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master in Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2007. / The end of the apartheid era in South Africa presented the new government with a myriad of challenges. This involved massive transformation, whilst ushering in a regulatory framework of enabling legislation to give effect to the country's fledgling Constitution. One of the transformational priorities was to address gender equality. Despite legislative imperatives having been instituted, gender equity targets are not being met, nor are affirmative action programmes being implemented to their fullest to facilitate and support gender equality. This research investigates the barriers that inhibit women from breaking the glass ceiling in the South African public service. The research paradigm was exploratory, using qualitative techniques and the results are largely descriptive. Secondary information was obtained from literature and information available. Multiple case studies were conducted using five subjects who were representative of the target population. The overarching purpose of this study was to investigate and understand the barriers that inhibit women from breaking the glass ceiling in the South African public service. The concept of the glass ceiling is defined as the invisible barrier that blocks women from advancing to senior management positions. The study proposes and considers various issues that may have an impact on upward mobility for women. A review of literature reveals that barriers exist as a worldwide occurrence and these prevent women from upward mobility. Justification for this research is twofold: there has been no such study to date; and gender equality is not being achieved and affirmative action programmes have not been fully implemented. The findings of the study provide a deeper understanding of the barriers that prevent women from career progression in the South African public service. Recommendations are made to address this issue / M

In today’s globalised business environment, females are underrepresented in expatriate positions. The lower numbers of females in international assignments results from the glass-ceiling that is established within the organisational culture of MNCs. What happens however, when the organisational culture is renowned for diversity, a strong ethical code of conduct and operates in a female-focused industry? We have therefore decided to investigate: “How does the organisational culture of Alpha cosmetics affect the job satisfaction of female expatriates?” and “What are the challenges related to female expatriation?” The study will attempt to answer the research questions by exploring the themes of organisational culture, job satisfaction and female expatriation. A qualitative research method involving semi-structured interviews, with ten female expatriates working for Alpha Cosmetics, was conducted.  Based on our results, Alpha Cosmetics possesses a clan culture which is commonly associated with high levels of job satisfaction. That appears to be the case in the beginning, however, the dark side of the culture surfaces when the expatriate glass-ceiling is identified in the organisation. This ceiling makes females self-initiate their expatriation without receiving any of the organisational benefits accompanied with traditional expatriation. This situation signifies the negative impact of the organisational culture on the job satisfaction of female expatriates.

Women entrepreneurs are emerging in the national economy as important players, yet gender bias and stereotypes still exist in organizations that prevent firms from taking advantage of women'€™s potential as leaders in entrepreneurial ventures. At the same time, traditional leadership models are lacking in diversity and unanswered questions remain regarding the role of gender in entrepreneurial leadership and enterprise sustainability. The purpose of this qualitative study, which used an exploratory, multiple-case research design, was to gain insight into the leadership practices of women entrepreneurial leaders and the implications of these practices for enterprise longevity 5 years after their business'€™s start-up phase. This study is framed by, first, the concept of the entrepreneurial leader and, second the intersectionality of gender and entrepreneurial leadership. Semistructured interviews with 9 participants, observational field notes, and archival data provided data regarding the leadership experiences of women entrepreneurs and enterprise longevity of women-led firms. Identifiable themes emerged through thematic analysis of the textual data and cross-case synthesis analysis. A total of 7 conceptual categories that enclose a total of 12 themes were identified. The conceptual categories are (a) gender, (b) entrepreneurial leadership, (c) market, (d) money, (e) management skills, (f) macro environment, and (g) meso environment. Findings from this study may serve as a catalyst for social change by challenging the status quo in existing formal work structures and promoting diversity in the workplace, opening new avenues for business growth and building bridges of communication between the business world and society.

Background: Studies that have been made in male-dominated organisations shows that only few women have succeeded in advancing to the higher positions in all businesses. Statistics shows that merely 4 % of the managers in all building companies are female. The manager role has earlier always been classified as most suitable for men resulting in barriers for women who strive for management positions. This problem is now very renowned and is called the glass ceiling. To improve the current situation, both the organization's structure and culture, have to be modernized for more women to succeed and get the courage to get into the industry. More women in the construction industry would enrich many companies and widely expand its competence. Purpose: The thesis of this paper is to provide an understanding of how the factors structure, culture, family, networking and leadership contributes to the few female managers in the production part of the construction industry. We are going to explore how women managers, based on their own experiences, believe that these barriers can be reduced. Delivery: To fulfill our purpose we have chosen to do a qualitative study with a deductive approach. We have conducted four interviews with female managers or previous female managers at different construction companies. Results: We have established that both women themselves and the companies can increase women's chances to advance in the construction industry. Women can more easily reach a management position in the construction industry by adapting to the male culture, achieving a balance between family and work and gain networking contacts. Companies in the construction industry can increase the proportion of female managers by focusing on recruitment, organizational structure, work climate, mentoring, and by taking into account the woman's family. We also found that it is important to keep the women who already work in the industry to attract more women to enter there. It is important to have female role models in companies that can guide and be good examples for new employees. Increasing the proportion of women in the construction industry requires that the interest in structural engineering is increasing in young girls. By this there will be more female applicants for structural engineering courses in the university. To reduce problems and create opportunities for women to work in the construction industry more women would be able to advance in the business. It also would lead to the glass ceiling becoming much thinner and that it could be broken completely in the future. / Bakgrund: Studier genomförda på mansdominerade företag visar att det finns ytterst få kvinnor som lyckats avancera till de högre positionerna inom samtliga företag. Statistik visar att endast 4 % av cheferna i alla byggföretag i Sverige är kvinnor. Chefskapet har tidigare alltid klassats som mest lämpligt för män vilket har lett till att kvinnor som strävar efter chefspositioner hindras från att ta sig upp i hierarkin. Detta problem är idag mycket omtalat och kallas för glastaket. För att förbättra dagens situation måste både organisationens struktur och kultur moderniseras för att fler kvinnor ska lyckas och våga ta sig in i branschen. Fler kvinnor i byggbranschen skulle berika många företag och i stor utsträckning utöka dess kompetens. Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att skapa en förståelse kring hur faktorerna struktur, kultur, familjesituation, nätverk samt ledarskap bidrar till fåtalet kvinnliga chefer i den producerande delen av byggbranschen. Vi ska även undersöka hur kvinnliga chefer, utifrån egna erfarenheter, anser att dessa hinder kan reduceras. Genomförande: För att uppfylla vårt syfte har vi valt att göra en kvalitativ studie med en deduktiv ansats. Vi har genomfört fyra stycken besöksintervjuer, tre med kvinnliga chefer och en med en tidigare chef på fyra olika byggföretag. Resultat: Vi har konstaterat att både kvinnor själva och företagen kan öka kvinnors chans att avancera inom byggbranschen. Kvinnor kan lättare nå en chefsposition i byggbranschen genom att anpassa sig till den manliga kulturen, uppnå balans mellan familj och arbete och skaffa nätverkskontakter. Företagen i byggbranschen kan öka andelen kvinnliga chefer genom att fokusera på rekrytering, organisationsstruktur, arbetsklimat, mentorskap och genom att ta hänsyn till kvinnans familjesituation. Vi har även kommit fram till att det är viktigt att behålla de kvinnor som redan finns i branschen idag för att intressera fler kvinnor att söka sig dit. Det är viktigt att det finns kvinnliga förebilder i företagen som kan vägleda och vara goda exempel för nyanställda. För att öka andelen kvinnor i byggbranschen krävs det att intresset för byggteknik ökar hos unga tjejer för att sedan få fler kvinnliga sökande till byggtekniska utbildningar. Att reducera problemen och skapa möjligheter för kvinnor att arbeta i byggbranschen skulle göra att fler kvinnor kan avancera inom företagen. Detta skulle även leda till att glastaket blir betydligt tunnare och i framtiden skulle kunna brytas helt.