Shattering the glass ceiling: Challenges and strategies for women managers in steel manufacturing
Orientation: Women’s participation in the labour force has increased significantly; however, equal advancement opportunities remain an issue across all employment sectors, especially within the male-dominated steel-manufacturing industry. Research purpose: This study aimed to explore the challenges...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-06-01
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| Series: | SA Journal of Industrial Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/2298 |
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| author | Aaliyah Lala Lynelle Coxen Marius W. Stander |
| author_facet | Aaliyah Lala Lynelle Coxen Marius W. Stander |
| author_sort | Aaliyah Lala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Orientation: Women’s participation in the labour force has increased significantly; however, equal advancement opportunities remain an issue across all employment sectors, especially within the male-dominated steel-manufacturing industry.
Research purpose: This study aimed to explore the challenges encountered and strategies women managers use to overcome gender-induced advancement barriers in a steel-manufacturing organisation.
Motivation for the study: Despite efforts made to achieve gender inclusivity and equality, women remain underrepresented in management positions. Therefore, this study is important as it highlights women managers’ unique gender-related challenges in South Africa’s male-dominated steel-manufacturing industry.
Research approach/design and method: Twelve women managers were selected through purposive criterion homogenous sampling and participated in semi-structured interviews. An exploratory qualitative descriptive design was used to explore their experiences, and data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Main findings: Six themes emerged from the study. Themes related to advancement challenges included the following: (1) work–life balance; (2) gender bias; and (3) professional development opportunities. Themes related to strategies included (1) self-empowerment; (2) maintaining an executive presence; and (3) professional support systems.
Practical/managerial implications: The steel-manufacturing organisation may benefit from understanding women managers’ experiences of advancement barriers and incorporating women’s empowerment programmes. Various policies and processes could be implemented to assist women’s career progression.
Contribution/value-add: This article aimed to fill the gap in literature regarding the unique gender-related barriers that women managers experience in a South African steel-manufacturing context. The study highlights strategies that women managers have implemented. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a61e945d1a1842d2b56f089a8ea615e0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0258-5200 2071-0763 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SA Journal of Industrial Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-a61e945d1a1842d2b56f089a8ea615e02025-08-20T03:28:34ZengAOSISSA Journal of Industrial Psychology0258-52002071-07632025-06-01510e1e1210.4102/sajip.v51i0.22981350Shattering the glass ceiling: Challenges and strategies for women managers in steel manufacturingAaliyah Lala0Lynelle Coxen1Marius W. Stander2Optentia Research Unit, Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; and School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, North-West University, VanderbijlparkOptentia Research Unit, Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; and School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, North-West University, VanderbijlparkOptentia Research Unit, Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; and School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, North-West University, VanderbijlparkOrientation: Women’s participation in the labour force has increased significantly; however, equal advancement opportunities remain an issue across all employment sectors, especially within the male-dominated steel-manufacturing industry. Research purpose: This study aimed to explore the challenges encountered and strategies women managers use to overcome gender-induced advancement barriers in a steel-manufacturing organisation. Motivation for the study: Despite efforts made to achieve gender inclusivity and equality, women remain underrepresented in management positions. Therefore, this study is important as it highlights women managers’ unique gender-related challenges in South Africa’s male-dominated steel-manufacturing industry. Research approach/design and method: Twelve women managers were selected through purposive criterion homogenous sampling and participated in semi-structured interviews. An exploratory qualitative descriptive design was used to explore their experiences, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Main findings: Six themes emerged from the study. Themes related to advancement challenges included the following: (1) work–life balance; (2) gender bias; and (3) professional development opportunities. Themes related to strategies included (1) self-empowerment; (2) maintaining an executive presence; and (3) professional support systems. Practical/managerial implications: The steel-manufacturing organisation may benefit from understanding women managers’ experiences of advancement barriers and incorporating women’s empowerment programmes. Various policies and processes could be implemented to assist women’s career progression. Contribution/value-add: This article aimed to fill the gap in literature regarding the unique gender-related barriers that women managers experience in a South African steel-manufacturing context. The study highlights strategies that women managers have implemented.https://sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/2298glass ceiling effectsteel manufacturingwomenmale-dominatedgender inequalityinclusivitywomen’s career progression |
| spellingShingle | Aaliyah Lala Lynelle Coxen Marius W. Stander Shattering the glass ceiling: Challenges and strategies for women managers in steel manufacturing SA Journal of Industrial Psychology glass ceiling effect steel manufacturing women male-dominated gender inequality inclusivity women’s career progression |
| title | Shattering the glass ceiling: Challenges and strategies for women managers in steel manufacturing |
| title_full | Shattering the glass ceiling: Challenges and strategies for women managers in steel manufacturing |
| title_fullStr | Shattering the glass ceiling: Challenges and strategies for women managers in steel manufacturing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Shattering the glass ceiling: Challenges and strategies for women managers in steel manufacturing |
| title_short | Shattering the glass ceiling: Challenges and strategies for women managers in steel manufacturing |
| title_sort | shattering the glass ceiling challenges and strategies for women managers in steel manufacturing |
| topic | glass ceiling effect steel manufacturing women male-dominated gender inequality inclusivity women’s career progression |
| url | https://sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/2298 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aaliyahlala shatteringtheglassceilingchallengesandstrategiesforwomenmanagersinsteelmanufacturing AT lynellecoxen shatteringtheglassceilingchallengesandstrategiesforwomenmanagersinsteelmanufacturing AT mariuswstander shatteringtheglassceilingchallengesandstrategiesforwomenmanagersinsteelmanufacturing |