The lived experience of women in middle management; the barriers and opportunities for career advancement

Abstract

Despite Iceland’s excellent performance on many gender equality measures, its ratio of women in top-management positions is improving very slowly. This research focuses on women who hold middle management positions in some of the largest organizations in Iceland, women who could be in line for top-management positions. It aims to understand the lived experiences of these women, the barriers, and opportunities for career development. In-depth interviews with eleven women were analyzed and interpreted according to phenomenological methodology. Findings reveal that the women feel they face insurmountable barriers on their way up the corporate ladder. They experience top-management as a closed Old Boys’ Club; top management jobs as tailored for men, requiring them to take on unbearable responsibilities; their diligence as unappreciated; and finally, they compare and contrast themselves with the stereotypical male-executive and blame themselves for not fitting the stereotype. These combined factors undermine the women’s self-confidence and ambition even further and thus maintain and reinforce the gender-imbalance in top management.