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1 – 10 of over 12000
Article
Publication date: 1 May 2005

Deborah A. O'Neil and Diana Bilimoria

This study aims to explore the nature of women's career experiences over the life course by examining career patterns, career locus, career contexts, and career beliefs.

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore the nature of women's career experiences over the life course by examining career patterns, career locus, career contexts, and career beliefs.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative, inductive approach to data gathering and analysis was employed, using life story surveys, semi‐structured interviewing, thematic analysis, grounded theory, code development and descriptive statistics.

Findings

The data revealed distinct patterns of how women's careers develop over time, particularly with regard to the impact of career contexts (societal, organizational, and relational) and women's own changing images of their careers and career success. A three‐phase, age‐linked model of women's career development is proposed: the idealistic achievement phase; the pragmatic endurance phase; and the reinventive contribution phase.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies should test replicability of these findings to determine whether this three‐phase model is embedded in the particular socio‐historical context of the times in which the particular women in this sample have lived or is universally applicable across different eras and changing realities.

Practical implications

Better organizational efforts are needed to ensure that women receive ongoing coaching and mentoring, work for managers who support their development, have access to organizational resources and opportunities to develop their skills, are given challenging assignments, are acknowledged for their unique talents, and are recognized for aptitude learned through life experiences and “non‐traditional” work histories.

Originality/value

This is a rare, women‐only study that looks at the career dynamics of women over the life course.

Details

Career Development International, vol. 10 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1362-0436

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 May 2010

Katlin Omair

The purpose of this study is to explore how women managers in the United Arab Emirates account for and construct their career development.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore how women managers in the United Arab Emirates account for and construct their career development.

Design/methodology/approach

A narrative approach is adopted for analyzing in‐depth interviews with 15 women managers in the United Arab Emirates.

Findings

The study produced a typology distinguishing four types of career development among women managers in the United Arab Emirates: progressive, moderate, facilitated and idealistic. The results suggest that social status and family connections can play a significant role in women's career development.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is two‐fold. First, it contributes to the previously under‐researched topic of the careers of Arab women managers. Second, it emphasizes the importance of societal context when studying women's careers in the Middle East.

Details

Career Development International, vol. 15 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1362-0436

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2020

Jouharah M. Abalkhail

This paper explores the experiences of women in Saudi Arabia who have been managed by other women, and examines how junior women perceive senior women's role in advancing their…

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper explores the experiences of women in Saudi Arabia who have been managed by other women, and examines how junior women perceive senior women's role in advancing their career.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on qualitative data gathered using in-depth semi-structured interviews undertaken with 30 women working in Saudi public organisations.

Findings

This study's findings shows that the hierarchical relationships between women and their woman manager are complex due to a multifaceted web of contextual factors including sociocultural values, family values, religious beliefs and organisational cultures and structures. These factors shape the quality of relationships between senior women and their women subordinates. Also, this study reveals that there is solidarity and ‘sisterly’ relationship between women in the workplace that plays a role in facilitating women's career development and advancement. In addition, this study shows that despite senior women's having supported other women's career advancement, this support tended to be conditional and limited. This can have an influence on women-to-women work relationships, where such relationships can be described as being disconnected and fragile. Furthermore, the study depict that there is evidence of the existence of ‘Queen Bee’-like senior women who distance themselves from other women and block their career advancement. The Queen Bee phenomena can actually become a form of hierarchy that mimics the patriarchal structure and excludes women from serving at top management levels.

Originality/value

This paper provides an in-depth understanding of the hierarchical relationships between women in the workplace and how these relationships have an influence on women's career advancement. Therefore, the paper makes a valuable contribution to the scarce knowledge that currently exists within the field of management research in relation to women's career development – and the advancement of such research within the Arab Middle Eastern context. Also, the findings of this study could potentially inform practitioners and HR department personnel within organisations about the connections between women's hierarchical workplace relationships and women's career development and advancement.

Details

Career Development International, vol. 25 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1362-0436

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 March 2011

Helena Knörr

The purpose of this paper is to provide better understanding of women's career advancement to top management and their future aspirations to become entrepreneurs.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide better understanding of women's career advancement to top management and their future aspirations to become entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's approach is qualitative research hermeneutic phenomenology.

Findings

Women's career experiences predisposed them to find an alternate route, entrepreneurship, despite having achieved top management.

Research limitations/implications

Understanding factors that successfully contribute to the development of women entrepreneurs from a career development perspective is a critical endeavor for any type of organization. This qualitative research is limited to US for‐profit organizations.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is that it provides a unique way to look at the career development for women from those who reached top management and their motivations to become entrepreneurs.

Details

International Journal of Manpower, vol. 32 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-7720

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 September 2020

Ting Liu, Jie Gao, Mingfang Zhu and Yajun Qiu

This study aims to examine the role of women’s career expectations (CEs) in changes in their career advancement (CA) and to determine whether these changes were because of…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the role of women’s career expectations (CEs) in changes in their career advancement (CA) and to determine whether these changes were because of socio-demographic factors.

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple linear regression was used to measure the relationship between women’s CEs and CA, as well as the influences that socio-demographic factors (e.g. education) have on that relationship.

Findings

Results indicated that CEs had two dimensions (i.e. career rewards and career development) and that career reward expectations had a significantly higher effect on CA than career development expectations. Furthermore, women were very likely to set higher CEs and stronger desires for CA as they became older. Results also showed that education, working years and position level were significantly related to women’s CA.

Practical implications

This study provides new insight into which aspects of women’s CA can be boosted by CEs and how these aspects may be affected by socio-demographic factors. This study can help hotels design better career management strategies to achieve the desired results. The study also provides guidance for women’s career management activities.

Originality/value

This study considers women’s CEs in hotels. The results revealed two dimensions (i.e. career rewards and career development) of CEs and uncovered the influences of socio-demographic factors on women’s CA, for example, age, education, working years and position level.

研究目的

基于对酒店业两个变量(即职业期望和职业晋升)的理解, 本研究旨在考察职业期望在妇女职业晋升变化中的作用, 并确定这些变化是否由社会人口特征因素引起。

设计/方法/途径

采用问卷调查的方式收集数据。采用多元线性回归来衡量女性职业期望和职业晋升之间的关系, 以及社会人口特征因素(如教育)对这种关系的影响。

研究结果

结果表明, 职业期望有两个维度(即职业奖励和职业发展), 职业奖励期望对职业晋升的影响明显高于职业发展期望。此外, 随着年龄的增长, 女性倾向于有更高的职业期望和更强烈的职业晋升愿望。结果还显示, 受教育程度、工作年限、职位级别与女性的职业晋升显著相关。

实践意义

这项研究为女性职业期望在哪些方面可以促进职业发展以及社会人口特征因素如何影响这些方面受到的提供了新的见解。这项研究可以帮助酒店设计更好的职业管理策略, 以达到预期效果。本研究也为女性的职业管理活动提供了指导。

原创性/价值

本研究将职业期望引入酒店业中女性员工职业发展研究。结果显示职业期望的两个维度(即职业奖励和职业发展), 并揭示了社会人口学因素如年龄、学历、工作年限和职位级别等对女性职业晋升发展的影响, 。

Propósito:

basado en la comprensión de dos variables (es decir, expectativas profesionales y avance profesional) en la industria hotelera, este estudio tuvo como objetivo examinar el papel de las expectativas profesionales en los cambios en el avance profesional de las mujeres y determinar si estos cambios se debieron a factores sociodemográficos.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

Se Utilizó Un Cuestionario Para Recopilar Datos. Se Utilizó La Regresión Lineal Múltiple Para Medir La Relación Entre Las Expectativas Profesionales De Las Mujeres Y El Avance Profesional, Así Como Las Influencias Que Los Factores Sociodemográficos (Por Ejemplo, La Educación) Tienen En Esa Relación.

Resultados

Los Resultados Indicaron Que Las Expectativas De Carrera Tenían Dos Dimensiones (Es Decir, Recompensas De Carrera Y Desarrollo De Carrera) Y Que Las Expectativas De Recompensa De Carrera Tenían Un Efecto Significativamente Mayor En El Avance De La Carrera Que Las Expectativas De Desarrollo De Carrera. Además, Las Mujeres Tenían Más Probabilidades De Tener Expectativas Profesionales Más Altas Y Deseos Más Fuertes Para Avanzar En Su Carrera A Medida Que Envejecían. Los Resultados También Mostraron Que La Educación, Los Años De Trabajo Y El Nivel De Posición Estaban Significativamente Relacionados Con El Avance Profesional De Las Mujeres.

Implicaciones prácticas

Este Estudio Proporciona Una Nueva Perspectiva Sobre Qué Aspectos Del Avance Profesional De Las Mujeres Pueden Ser Impulsados Por Las Expectativas Profesionales Y Cómo Estos Aspectos Pueden Verse Afectados Por Factores Sociodemográficos. Este Estudio Puede Ayudar A Los Hoteles A Diseñar Mejores Estrategias De Gestión Profesional Para Lograr Los Resultados Deseados. El Estudio También Proporciona Orientación Para Las Actividades De Gestión Profesional De Las Mujeres.

Originalidad/Valor

este estudio considera las expectativas profesionales de las mujeres en la industria hotelera. Los resultados revelaron dos dimensiones (es decir, recompensas profesionales y desarrollo profesional) de las expectativas profesionales y descubrieron las influencias de los factores sociodemográficos en el avance profesional de las mujeres, por ejemplo, edad, educación, años de trabajo y nivel de posición.

Article
Publication date: 6 October 2022

Yonjoo Cho, Jieun You, Yuyeon Choi, Jiyoung Ha, Yoon Hee Kim, Jinsook Kim, Sang Hee Kang, Seunghee Lee, Romee Lee and Terri Kim

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how highly educated women respond to career chance events in a Korean context where traditional cultural values and…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how highly educated women respond to career chance events in a Korean context where traditional cultural values and male-dominated organizational culture coexist.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted 50 semi-structured interviews with highly educated women operationalized as women with doctoral degrees in and out of Korea. The authors used a collaborative research process with a team of ten Korean-born researchers who have built consensus on research themes through discussions on the collection and analysis of a large data set, thus reducing the researcher bias issue inherent in qualitative research.

Findings

In an analysis of the interview data collected, the authors report on three themes: before obtaining a doctoral degree, during and after their doctoral study and responses (coping strategies) to chance events in their careers. Highly educated women’s pursuing a doctoral degree was a way to maintain work–life balance in Korea where women are expected to take a primary caregiver role. After obtaining a doctoral degree, participants struggled with limited job opportunities in the male-dominated higher education. Women’s unplanned and unexpected chance events are intertwined with the male-dominated culture in Korea, and career interruptions as such a chance event, whether voluntary or involuntary, happened largely due to family reasons. In this context, highly educated women responded to chance events largely at individual and family levels and articulated the need for support at organizational and government levels.

Research limitations/implications

The study findings confirm the literature that women’s careers are limited by traditional family roles in non-Western countries where strong patriarchal culture is prevalent. Particularly, women’s career interruptions surfaced as a critical chance event that either disrupts or delays their careers largely because of family issues. Future research is called for to identify both individual and contextual factors that influence women’s decisions on voluntary and involuntary career interruptions as their responses to chance events.

Practical implications

Based on highly educated women’s coping strategies largely at individual and family levels, we suggest national human resource development policies put in place not to lose out on the opportunity to develop highly educated women with doctoral degrees as a quality workforce for a nation’s sustainable economic growth. Additionally, organizations need to be aligned with the government policies and programs for the provision of developmental programs for women in the workplace, beginning with highly educated women’s career planning, while creating organizational culture to promote gender equality as a long-term goal.

Originality/value

The participants’ voluntary career breaks helped them care for their children, be involved in their children’s education, reflect on work–life balance after having long hours of work for many years and move forward with personal satisfaction. Voluntary career breaks can be understood as highly educated women’s unique way of responding to chance events.

Details

European Journal of Training and Development, vol. 47 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-9012

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 1997

Jane O’Leary

Explores the concept “career ambitious” in the contexts of traditional corpocratic “male” and more recent “female” career development models. Traditional corpocratic career

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Abstract

Explores the concept “career ambitious” in the contexts of traditional corpocratic “male” and more recent “female” career development models. Traditional corpocratic career development models are premissed on the notion of linear hierarchical progression and, accordingly, encourage competition, this being the vehicle through which the individual reaches the much‐prized top rung of the career ladder. In this context, the career ambitious individual is fiercely competitive, viewing her or his career as a series of tournaments, and measuring her or his career success by objective measures such as salary, rank or promotion. In contrast, when adopting a more holistic women’s career development framework, in which the interplay between work, significant others, organizational factors and various life stages is acknowledged, the career ambitious individual is one who measures her or his success in both professional and personal arenas through subjective measures such as perceived degree of challenge, satisfaction or sense of growth or development.

Details

Women in Management Review, vol. 12 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0964-9425

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 June 2011

Susan Shortland

The purpose of this paper is to report on female expatriates' views on the potential importance of a formalised “women's network” launched by management as a diversity…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on female expatriates' views on the potential importance of a formalised “women's network” launched by management as a diversity intervention to aid women's career development in an oil, gas and minerals extractive industries firm.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of a triangulated research comprising analysis of company policy, interviews with Human Resources staff, a census survey of women expatriates, followed by in‐depth, semi‐structured female expatriate interviews.

Findings

Women value networking to prepare for expatriation and in working and living abroad. Informal networks are also used by more experienced women expatriates to learn of potential vacancies and gain career development on expatriation and repatriation. A formalised women's network is envisaged as being helpful to supplement these links. In a male‐dominated environment, the value of a network for women is appreciated, although concerns are raised that this might further reinforce gender divisions.

Research limitations/implications

Research was limited to a single case study where the intervention had only recently been launched. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of similar, more established career interventions. Comparative studies are also needed, both within the oil, gas and minerals sector and in other industries.

Practical implications

Employers developing formal networking interventions could benefit from understanding the views of potential users, particularly in respect of the potential limitations of such networks in promoting career development and through the adoption of a gendered approach.

Originality/value

There are relatively few data available on formalised employer actions to set up and run networks specifically for women as career development interventions. This case study provides an insight into how these might be received by – and their potential impact on – female expatriates.

Details

Career Development International, vol. 16 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1362-0436

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1996

Victoria B. Hoffarth

The recent years have been marked by the increasing participation of women in the labour force internationally. Especially in the industrialised countries of Western Europe and…

Abstract

The recent years have been marked by the increasing participation of women in the labour force internationally. Especially in the industrialised countries of Western Europe and North America, this labour force participation is now well over 40%. Globally, however, the estimate is around 33%. A large number of these women are still found in the agriculture sector and the informal sector of industry. For those working in the formal industrial sector, a significant portion work in the shopfloor of assembly line operations for products ranging from electronics to textiles. Women in management comprise less than 1% of all economically active women. For the purposes of this paper, a “manager” is defined as a person who has latitude in decision making as to the allocation and use of organisational resources, including physical, financial, and human resources.

Details

Equal Opportunities International, vol. 15 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0261-0159

Article
Publication date: 14 December 2023

Gaelle Fitong Ketchiwou and Matsidiso Nehemia Naong

This study aims to explore organizational factors that impact women’s career advancement. Knowledge of organizational practices that promote or obstruct women’s career progress is…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore organizational factors that impact women’s career advancement. Knowledge of organizational practices that promote or obstruct women’s career progress is vital for women, firms and governments.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 237 women participated in the study from the service sector in Johannesburg (South Africa). Participants were selected using a convenient sampling approach. Researchers used a questionnaire, consisting of demographic and open-ended questions, to gather data. Comments were analyzed using a thematic content analysis approach.

Findings

Findings reveal that prioritizing women, offering skills development opportunities, providing growth opportunities, assisting women in managing their careers, offering mentorship and having work-family support initiatives are practices that promote women’s career advancement. Conversely, practices that foster stagnation of women’s careers, distrust in women’s leadership abilities, preference for external candidates, people–related malpractices, male domination/preference, lack of role models and work-family balance support, hamper women’s career advancement.

Practical implications

The findings of this study will contribute to women’s empowerment. Organizations should provide a conducive atmosphere by instituting practices that promote their female employees' career advancement. Firms also should intentionally take practical steps to address practices that impede women’s career progression. The results of this study will also help the government to design appropriate policies that will promote the career progression of women employees.

Originality/value

This study presents findings from an analysis of qualitative data collected from 237 women to provide insight into the experiences of women working within the service industry in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Details

African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-0705

Keywords

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