Factors that Influence the Glass Ceiling. Evidence from Formal Sector Organisations in Ghana

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate some of the factors that impede on the careers of women. The study is intended to help come out with guidelines for HR practitioners in Ghanaian organisations on how to enhance the career advancement of women as well as help policy makers in making decisions that concerns improvement of the conditions and standard of living of women in Ghana. This research is made up of a literature review which analyses various theories related to the glass ceiling and supported by a survey and semi-structure interviews using themes developed from the literature review. The survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaires to workers in the formal sector who met the respondent specification since purposive sampling technique was used. Also, the snowball sampling was used to identify women in upper levels of organisations for the semi-structured interviewees since their experience on the research topic was crucial to their selection. In all, 50 questionnaires were answered and 3 semi-structured interviewees were conducted in three formal sector organisations in Ghana. The respondents were men and women in subordinate and management positions. The findings from the study revealed that there are few women at the top levels of organisations. This indicates that certain factors prevent women from getting to the upper levels of organisations which signals the existence of the glass ceiling. Also, it was realised that there were four factors which influence the existence of the glass ceiling in organisations. These factors are; the role of the government, organisational barriers, the influence of the society and the contributions made by women themselves.