Women in Leadership: Shattering Barriers in Male-Dominated Fields
Student
Institution
Instructor
Course
Date
, ii
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................iv
Background, Context, and Theoretical Framework..................................................................................v
..................................................................................................................................................................... v
Barriers to Successful Female Leadership and Approaches to Break the Glass Ceiling........................1
Changing the Metaphor by Breaking the Glass Ceiling........................................................................3
Theoretical Framework: Gender Organization System........................................................................4
Socialization Models............................................................................................................................5
Gender-Centered Perspective..............................................................................................................6
Role Congruity Theory.........................................................................................................................6
Social Role Theory................................................................................................................................6
Organizational Structure Perspective..................................................................................................7
Black Feminist Theory..........................................................................................................................7
Statement of the Problem.......................................................................................................................7
Purpose of the Study...............................................................................................................................8
Research Questions.................................................................................................................................8
Rationale, Relevance, and Significance....................................................................................................8
Nature of the Study.................................................................................................................................9
Definitions of Terms................................................................................................................................9
Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations.........................................................................................11
Chapter Summary..................................................................................................................................13
CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................................................14
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................14
Purpose of the Study.............................................................................................................................15
Theoretical Framework..........................................................................................................................15
Review of the study and Methodological Literature Introduction.........................................................17
Antecedents of the Glass Ceiling.......................................................................................................17
Manifestations of the Glass Ceiling....................................................................................................19
Productivity Abilities of Women........................................................................................................19
Assigning Roles in Organizations........................................................................................................21
Remuneration of Women and Other Minorities....................................................................................22
Government and the Glass Ceiling.........................................................................................................24
, iii
The Impact of the Glass Ceiling..............................................................................................................25
Economic Impact...............................................................................................................................26
Legal Impact.......................................................................................................................................27
Social Impact......................................................................................................................................27
Political Impact..................................................................................................................................28
Health Impacts...................................................................................................................................28
Breaking the Glass Ceiling......................................................................................................................29
Review of Methodological Issues...........................................................................................................32
Critique of Previous Research................................................................................................................33
Conclusion and Summary......................................................................................................................33
CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................................34
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................34
Research Methodology..........................................................................................................................35
Methodology and Research Design.......................................................................................................37
Target Populations, Sampling Methods, and Related Procedures.........................................................37
Target Population..............................................................................................................................38
Sampling Method..............................................................................................................................38
Sample Size........................................................................................................................................38
Setting................................................................................................................................................39
Recruitment.......................................................................................................................................39
Instrumentation.................................................................................................................................40
CHAPTER 4. DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS...............................................................................................41
Instrument Validity/Reliability: Pilot Study........................................................................................41
Data Collection Procedures...................................................................................................................42
Data Collection Process.....................................................................................................................42
Data Analysis Procedures...................................................................................................................43
Trustworthiness.....................................................................................................................................45
Credibility..............................................................................................................................................45
Transferability........................................................................................................................................46
Dependability........................................................................................................................................46
Conformability.......................................................................................................................................47
Ethical Issues..........................................................................................................................................47
Summary................................................................................................................................................48
, iv
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION
Introduction to the Problem
Women globally have increasingly infiltrated male-dominated professions traditionally. Women
are now role models establishing gender freedom, rights, and respect. For decades, women were
relegated to clerical duties in office settings. Today, women reduced the work environment's
barriers and proved capability in completing work-related tasks as effectively as male
counterparts. Despite accomplishments in the workplace, a significant gender disparity in top
managerial professions is present (Davis & Maldonado, 2015; Newman, 2016). Contemporary
data indicates that women are underrepresented in senior management positions (Davis &
Maldonado, 2015; Newman, 2016). Women in workforce sectors, such as law enforcement, are
deterred by obstacles and male counterparts unwilling to change stereotypical female capability
views. Cook and Glass (2014) defined the glass ceiling as the invisible barriers women face that
prohibit them from advancing in their chosen professions. The glass ceiling is a socio-cultural
phenomenon that prohibits women in various organizations from realizing their potential (Isaac
et al., 2017).
Only a handful of researchers identified the turbulent journey women take in establishing
leadership roles. Ćorić (2018) and Yu (2018) investigated aspects of changing leadership in the
workplace. According to Ćorić (2018), the untapped leadership potential among women has
reduced organizational success for the past four decades. Bernard (2017) argued that the
qualitative research method allows for establishing specific influential factors impacting
women's position in society. Therefore, this researcher examines the barriers women in the law
enforcement field face in gaining senior positions in male-dominated professions.
Student
Institution
Instructor
Course
Date
, ii
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................iv
Background, Context, and Theoretical Framework..................................................................................v
..................................................................................................................................................................... v
Barriers to Successful Female Leadership and Approaches to Break the Glass Ceiling........................1
Changing the Metaphor by Breaking the Glass Ceiling........................................................................3
Theoretical Framework: Gender Organization System........................................................................4
Socialization Models............................................................................................................................5
Gender-Centered Perspective..............................................................................................................6
Role Congruity Theory.........................................................................................................................6
Social Role Theory................................................................................................................................6
Organizational Structure Perspective..................................................................................................7
Black Feminist Theory..........................................................................................................................7
Statement of the Problem.......................................................................................................................7
Purpose of the Study...............................................................................................................................8
Research Questions.................................................................................................................................8
Rationale, Relevance, and Significance....................................................................................................8
Nature of the Study.................................................................................................................................9
Definitions of Terms................................................................................................................................9
Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations.........................................................................................11
Chapter Summary..................................................................................................................................13
CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................................................14
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................14
Purpose of the Study.............................................................................................................................15
Theoretical Framework..........................................................................................................................15
Review of the study and Methodological Literature Introduction.........................................................17
Antecedents of the Glass Ceiling.......................................................................................................17
Manifestations of the Glass Ceiling....................................................................................................19
Productivity Abilities of Women........................................................................................................19
Assigning Roles in Organizations........................................................................................................21
Remuneration of Women and Other Minorities....................................................................................22
Government and the Glass Ceiling.........................................................................................................24
, iii
The Impact of the Glass Ceiling..............................................................................................................25
Economic Impact...............................................................................................................................26
Legal Impact.......................................................................................................................................27
Social Impact......................................................................................................................................27
Political Impact..................................................................................................................................28
Health Impacts...................................................................................................................................28
Breaking the Glass Ceiling......................................................................................................................29
Review of Methodological Issues...........................................................................................................32
Critique of Previous Research................................................................................................................33
Conclusion and Summary......................................................................................................................33
CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................................34
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................34
Research Methodology..........................................................................................................................35
Methodology and Research Design.......................................................................................................37
Target Populations, Sampling Methods, and Related Procedures.........................................................37
Target Population..............................................................................................................................38
Sampling Method..............................................................................................................................38
Sample Size........................................................................................................................................38
Setting................................................................................................................................................39
Recruitment.......................................................................................................................................39
Instrumentation.................................................................................................................................40
CHAPTER 4. DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS...............................................................................................41
Instrument Validity/Reliability: Pilot Study........................................................................................41
Data Collection Procedures...................................................................................................................42
Data Collection Process.....................................................................................................................42
Data Analysis Procedures...................................................................................................................43
Trustworthiness.....................................................................................................................................45
Credibility..............................................................................................................................................45
Transferability........................................................................................................................................46
Dependability........................................................................................................................................46
Conformability.......................................................................................................................................47
Ethical Issues..........................................................................................................................................47
Summary................................................................................................................................................48
, iv
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION
Introduction to the Problem
Women globally have increasingly infiltrated male-dominated professions traditionally. Women
are now role models establishing gender freedom, rights, and respect. For decades, women were
relegated to clerical duties in office settings. Today, women reduced the work environment's
barriers and proved capability in completing work-related tasks as effectively as male
counterparts. Despite accomplishments in the workplace, a significant gender disparity in top
managerial professions is present (Davis & Maldonado, 2015; Newman, 2016). Contemporary
data indicates that women are underrepresented in senior management positions (Davis &
Maldonado, 2015; Newman, 2016). Women in workforce sectors, such as law enforcement, are
deterred by obstacles and male counterparts unwilling to change stereotypical female capability
views. Cook and Glass (2014) defined the glass ceiling as the invisible barriers women face that
prohibit them from advancing in their chosen professions. The glass ceiling is a socio-cultural
phenomenon that prohibits women in various organizations from realizing their potential (Isaac
et al., 2017).
Only a handful of researchers identified the turbulent journey women take in establishing
leadership roles. Ćorić (2018) and Yu (2018) investigated aspects of changing leadership in the
workplace. According to Ćorić (2018), the untapped leadership potential among women has
reduced organizational success for the past four decades. Bernard (2017) argued that the
qualitative research method allows for establishing specific influential factors impacting
women's position in society. Therefore, this researcher examines the barriers women in the law
enforcement field face in gaining senior positions in male-dominated professions.
