Gender inequality barriers and solutions to senior management positions: perspectives on women in Bahraini banking sector

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper mainly aims at investigating the barriers that female Bahraini managers face in their career progression when attempting to reach senior management positions. In addition, this paper seeks to propose practical solutions to overcome the Barriers in women's career progression. To achieve the objectives of the study, qualitative research approach was applied through semi-structured interviews specifically designed to collect primary information from the samples of the study, which consisted of (40) managers (female) working in banks in Bahrain and financial sector. The results showed that autonomy and acquiescence to the norms are the main barriers that female Bahraini managers face in their career progression when attempting to reach senior management positions. As well as, the results illustrated that competence, customs, and self- improvement are practical solutions to overcome the Barriers facing women in career progression.