The 21st century has witnessed significant progress in technology, communication, networking, socialization, and other areas. However, women continue to face several barriers to leadership, including women of color, LGBTQ+ women, women with disabilities, and chronic mental illnesses, who experience perpetual discrimination and abandonment in the workforce. Despite women accounting for 47.7% of the global workforce, women are still underrepresented in management positions, and women of color continue to lose their representation at every level.
Women leaders have voluntarily pursued C-suite leadership roles and have taken responsibility for employee wellbeing, corporate orientation, and nurturing organizational values. Studies have shown that women are more effective managers and are better at driving employee engagement. However, men and women have different perceptions of female leadership, with women being more positive about women leaders than men.
The Women In Workplace 2021 study shows that men significantly outnumber women in receiving promotions to managerial positions, indicating that there are fewer women to be promoted to higher positions. Women tend to experience more burnout than men, with the COVID-19 pandemic triggering the burnout experience for women. The major barriers to female leadership include a lack of confidence, insufficient resources/support, and unequal opportunities.
Overcoming gender-associated barriers to women’s leadership requires addressing cultural and organizational barriers. The emergence of female leaders can potentially become the central point for harboring positivity and development. Women possess several qualities that make them suitable for undertaking C-suite roles, including higher emotional intelligence, ethical and civic-mindedness, a passion for their work, and the championing of diversity and issues of equality.
It is crucial to continue breaking barriers and overcoming challenges to achieve gender equality in leadership. By doing so, women can become powerful leaders in their organizations and instigate changes through technological advancements and policies. It is time for women to receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve, as this will help in building a more inclusive and diverse workforce.