Glass Ceiling Effect on Women Career Progression in Urban Pakistan

Abstract

Regardless of the notable increase in the women workforce worldwide, their advancement toward the senior managerial designations has remained limited. The obstruction for women to achieve senior-level positions due to gender discrimination is referred to the Glass Ceiling (GC) effect. Gender discrimination persists as a constant setback globally, but it has become an acute problem in developing countries. The key objective of this study is to investigate the glass ceiling effect on women career growth in urban Pakistan. Deductive approach is used to determine the variables which support the GC effect. A total of 150 questionnaires were distributed using random sampling technique among the female employees of Karachi, out of which 100 responded. Data is analyzed using descriptive statistics with the help of SPSS. The study concluded that urban working women are drained with family responsibilities, workload and gender discrimination at work, which eventually results in inefficiency and a high degree of stress. Study findings reveal that the strongest predictor that hinder Women Career Progression (WCP) is Gender Stereotype (GS), followed by Organizational Practices (OP), and the Work-life Conflict (WLC). Based on the study findings it is recommended that the organizations in Pakistan should inculcate equality, encourage diversity in the senior management, offer the women workforce flexible-job arrangements and maternity leaves, and provide day care facilities to the children, to balance the women work-life conflicts.