Study on Glass Ceiling Factors Affecting Women’s Career Development with Special Reference to Sri Lankan Construction Industry

Abstract

The Glass ceiling is one of the foremost compelling metaphors, which is used to analyse the imbalance between male and female workers within the work environment. The purpose of this study is to understand the glass ceiling factors affecting on women’s career development in Sri Lankan construction industry. The study aims to get a good understanding of the underrepresentation of females in top management positions and the reluctance to cultivate their professional careers in the industry. To accomplish the objective both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used. By means of quantitative analysis, a structured questionnaire was distributed among a sample consisting of 53 female middle managers. The results of regression analysis discovered individual factors, and gender stereotype has positively affected the career development while family responsibilities do not have a significant influence on career development. The findings reveal that some of the barriers mentioned in the literature are prevalent in the Sri Lankan context except family responsibilities. For qualitative analysis, five lady senior managers in the construction industry were interviewed. According to their perception organizational culture, social-cultural factors and environmental factors are the significant factors which affect the career development of women. The study findings further offer some strategies to break those glass ceiling factors in an organizational context as well as personal characteristics. The company should give more opportunities for female employees. Apart from that people must individually have a thirst for developing their professional careers, and they must be willing to take risks and always think out of the box.