BARRIERS AND CHALLEGES CONFRONTING WOMEN FOR LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT POSITIONS: REVIEW AND ANALYSIS

Semere Haile
Tsegai Emmanuel
Augustine Dzathor
Grambling State University

ABSTRACT
Women continue to remain ambitious and aspire to be in leadership positions in organizations (Sanders et al., 2011). The question is what are the pressing issues denying qualified women opportunities for promotion and reaching the pinnacle of organizations? Some researchers attribute the absence of women in management positions to insufficient number of educated women, even though women have recently made significant gains in education (Aparna, 2014; Blau & Kahn, 2007). According to Grant Thornton – International Business Report (IBR, 2013), this rigid mindset, often in male dominated cultures, denies women the opportunity to attain top management and leadership positions in corporate hierarchy. This study reviews and analyzes several challenges confronting women in attaining senior management leadership positions and expatriate positions, relative to men; in business, government, and university sectors. This study also reviews and analyzes barriers related to cultural and legal environments.

Keywords: Global issue, leadership, management, women, education, promotion