The glass ceiling in context: the influence of CEO gender, recruitment practices and firm internationalisation on the representation of women in management

Abstract

This study examines macro‐level organisational determinants of women in management. Specifically, we examined organisational characteristics and strategies, including firm levels of internationalisation, firm foreign ownership, chief executive officer gender and the active recruitment of women, as predictors of an organisation's level of representation of women in management. Results from a survey of 278 firms indicated that the presence of a female chief executive officer and an organisation's active recruitment of women are positively associated with a firm's percentage of women in management while firm internationalisation and firm foreign ownership are negatively associated with the representation of women in management. Overall, these findings suggest that although firms exercise discretion with respect to hiring and promoting women, they are also constrained by the external environment and organisational characteristics. For example, firms with higher levels of firm internationalisation and that are foreign‐owned may limit their efforts and investment in the advancement of women into management.

Why Do Companies Choose Female CEOs?

“…Female CEOs and female-biased recruitment strategies are significantly more favorable for women to become managers. However, these studies also found that corporate internationalization and foreign investment have a negative impact on female senior managers [7]. Moreover, the subsidiaries of parent companies and companies with trade unions have a negative impact on female senior managers [24].…”

“…This means that the selection of CEO is a major strategic decision that affects the development of the company. During the process of research on female executives, corporate characteristics play a key role in accounting for women's entry into management [7]. At the same time, the selection and appointment of senior executives is a typical strategic behavior and organizational result that is subject to the level of industry and social and economic development.…”

“…Thus, there are no differences in ability between males and females. Meanwhile, corporate characteristics and the environment serve as the key factors to explain how women break through the ceiling and enter into the top management of businesses [7]. Therefore, this paper provides a complete environment analysis framework, further clarifies the impact mechanism of different environments on CEO genders, and enriches existing research studies.…”

The Relationship Between Diversified Board of Directors, Auditor Selection, Corporate Governance and Sustainability: An Application on Borsa Istanbul Companies

“…Independent members help with monitoring the management and providing an independent point of view. Ng and Sears (2017) report that firm ownership affects the inclusion of women in corporations and women inclusion is higher where there is a female CEO.…”

Impact of Glass Ceiling on Women Employees in Hospitals

“…The most remarkable transformation was that women are not just competing men in managerial cadre and entrepreneur activities, they started to show them to India's Business World through their achievements. It is also to be noted that in some classes women are compelling (Ng and Sears 2017). Although the Indian women have made significant progress in attaining equality status legally.…”