engleski

Glass ceiling: gender inequality in the workplace

The aim of this paper is to provide a sociologically-based analysis of the phenomenon of glass ceiling in Croatia in comparison with the EU context and in eastern Croatia within the Croatian context. The purpose is to contribute to the analysis of the problematics of gender workplace discrimination and inequality and of women's access to all levels of professional hierarchy, with the focus on the concept of glass ceiling and both the challenges and criticism it faces us with. The mixed-methods approach used in this research includes both quantitative and qualitative focus: semi-structured interviews conducted in 2018 with women holding different top positions in business and the analysis of secondary data gathered from Croatian and European sources (Ombudsman's research on gender representation in companies in Croatia, Eurostat, ILO, McKinsey, UN, Croatian Bureau of Statistics etc.). The results suggest that general theses on more difficult and obstacle- laden advancement of women can be supported, that there are significantly more men in leading and management positions and that there are additional efforts that need to be make in order to achieve social gender equality apart from only formal and legislative equality. Gender inequality is pronouncedly present in the field of work, and particularly so above a certain top level, and awareness needs to be raised regarding huge costs of this situation growth-wise and development-wise.

glass ceiling, gender, inequality, workplace

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