Organisational, societal, and individual factors affecting women’s career progression in Bahraini banking sector

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper mainly aims at exploring factors affecting women's career progression in Bahraini banking sector. To achieve the objectives of the study, qualitative research approach was applied through semi-structured interviews specifically designed to collect primary information from(37) female managers working in banks. The collected data was analysed using content analysis. The results showed that organisational, societal, and individual factors had a large impact on women's career progression, where organisational factor includes impeding women from attending leadership training and mentorship programmes, lack of women role models, disempowerment, lack of confidence in women's performance, and bias and discrimination. While, societal factor includes stereotyping, societal norms and perceptions, and clash of cultures. Individual factor includes lack of personality traits, lack of education and mentorship, and hesitation and fear. In light of these results, the researcher recommended that it should be an understanding of the male perception of barriers that impede female career advancement.