Opinions of Educational Administrators on Glass Ceiling Syndrome Preventing Women from Becoming Senior Managers

Burcu Akkaya

doi:10.11114/jets.v8i3.4658

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to reveal the opinions of educational administrators about the factors that arise from the glass ceiling syndrome which prevents women from becoming senior managers in educational organizations. In addition, in this study, suggestions have been developed for women to overcome the obstacles they face in reaching senior management positions. Qualitative method was used in this research. The research was conducted as a descriptive study in the survey model. The participants of the study consisted of educational administrators working in Niğde province. Semi-structured interview technique was used to examine and reveal the views of the participants in depth. Content analysis method was used in the analysis of data. According to the results, all participants think that women face glass ceiling barriers in the promotion of senior managerial positions. Obstacles to the glass ceiling are mostly due to individual factors. Individual factors were followed by organizational and social factors, respectively. Among the individual factors, the most important obstacles are women's negative view of management and their family responsibilities. Women do not aspire to management tasks because they require more workload and responsibility. In addition, male-dominated organizational policies and the sexist approach, which sees management as man's job are barriers for women. It has been suggested that women should be more willing and challenging to overcome the glass ceiling barriers. In addition, suggestions were made for senior management positions such as allocating quotas and providing flexible working hours for women.

Highlights

Women began to work in paid jobs with the industrial revolution, and a working woman role was added to the women's roles of mother, spouse, and housewife
In the light of this information, the purpose of this study is to reveal the opinions of educational administrators about the factors that arise from the glass ceiling syndrome which prevents women from becoming senior managers in educational organizations
Women's multiple roles such as mothers, spouses, housewives and managers prevent them from rising to senior managerial positions

Summary

Introduction

Women began to work in paid jobs with the industrial revolution, and a working woman role was added to the women's roles of mother, spouse, and housewife. Employment rates, working conditions and career opportunities of working women have always been more disadvantaged than men. Women's employment rates and wages are lower and career opportunities have always been limited. Women participate in the labor market at all levels, raise their level of education, and prepare for senior positions that traditionally belong to men (Palmer and Hyman, 1993). There is a tendency for women to be placed in jobs that are low in wages, and women find themselves in non-strategic jobs rather than higher positions and managerial jobs (Wirth, 2004)

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Results

Conclusion