Why are there relatively few women in top managerial positions and Essay

Why are there relatively few women in top managerial positions and what steps might be taken to overcome the obstacles they face - Essay Example Gender discrimination, bias, sexual harassment, cultural, social and conventional factors all led women not to prefer management career line. This work analyses what measures can be taken in order to bring women in to the management mainstream. People think ‘men’ when they think of ‘management’ has been discussed for long by researchers, managements and organizations. Historically, the social attitudes towards ‘women management’ had prohibited most women from becoming managers in functional areas of management. The assumption that women are not as better suited for management traits as men had been, until recently, rarely questioned and seldom explored. Even though most perceive that not only men but women are also capable of management traits, why there are few women in management has been a matter of relevant discussion. This work analyses the reasons why there are few women in management positions and what measures need to be taken in order to bring women managers in to the mainstream. Surveys and researches conducted throughout different countries have proved that women in management are fewer disproportionately to the rate of population and education. There continues to be a great disparity in women representation in management when compared to the number of women educated. Women around the world now represent about more than 40% of the total workforce, but their roles in management and leadership remained comparatively low. According to Sanghamitra Buddhapriya (1999), organizational roles have been traditionally gendered. Certain levels and positions have been considered to be more appropriate to women or men. The gendered aspect made men with occupying dominance over women. (p. 3). Those who have reached some higher level managerial positions are constantly being challenged by ever changing working environment. For women managers and leaders, the affirmation and support from a larger community remains still uncommon. Three