Women often feel that they have to work twice as hard as men in order to be considered equally competent. This is because they face a number of barriers in their careers. They are often stereotyped as being less capable, which contributes to the fact that women are still paid less than men for doing the same jobs. These factors hold women back from advancing their careers.
In this article, we will discuss What barriers women face in developing careers across their working life?
There are various barriers that women face in their careers across their working life. These barriers prevent from having a fulfilling job and they low wages. The barriers ranges from sexual harassment, gender stereotyping, gender pay gap and many others.
15 Obstacles Women Face at Work
Women face many barriers in developing careers across their working lives. These include:
1. Gender discrimination
One of the biggest challenges faced by women in leadership roles is gender discrimination. Despite progress being made in recent years, discrimination against women in the workplace is still a pervasive issue. Women may face discrimination in the form of unequal pay, lack of promotion opportunities, and harassment. This discrimination can make it difficult for women to advance to leadership positions and can also make it challenging for them to be successful once they have reached those positions.
2. Lack of representation and role model
Another challenge faced by women in leadership roles is a lack of representation and role models. Women are still underrepresented in leadership positions, and this lack of visibility can make it difficult for women to envision themselves in those roles. Additionally, the lack of female role models in leadership positions can make it harder for women to find mentors and sponsors who can help guide them in their careers.
3. Stereotyping and unconscious bias
Stereotyping and unconscious bias are also major challenges faced by women in leadership roles. Societal stereotypes often depict women as less competent and less capable of leadership, which can make it difficult for women to be seen as credible leaders. Additionally, unconscious bias can lead to women being overlooked for leadership positions and being passed over for promotions.
4. Work-life balance
Work-life balance is also a major challenge faced by women in leadership roles. Women are often expected to balance the demands of their careers with the demands of their personal lives, including family responsibilities. This can make it difficult for women to advance in their careers and can also make it challenging for them to be successful once they have reached leadership positions.
5. Limited access to resources and opportunities
Limited access to resources and opportunities is another challenge faced by women in leadership roles. Women may have limited access to education and training opportunities, which can make it difficult for them to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in leadership positions. Additionally, women may have limited access to networking and mentorship opportunities, which can make it difficult for them to find the support and guidance needed to advance in their careers.
6. Double standards and expectations
Double standards and expectations are also a major challenge faced by women in leadership roles. Women may be held to different standards and expectations than men, and may be judged more harshly for their actions. This can make it difficult for women to succeed and advance in their careers.
7. Sexual harassment
Some women experience sexual harassment from colleagues or managers at work. This can include inappropriate comments about appearance, touching and unwanted advances from someone who has power over you. This harassment is often from an older man who is more experienced than you are in your career field, such as a boss or supervisor.
Sexual harassment can make people feel uncomfortable and intimidated in their workplace, which can make them less productive at work and cause them stress when they’re there.
8. Lack of flexibility
For many women, flexible working arrangements are essential if they want to combine a career with having children or caring for elderly relatives. But these arrangements can be difficult to obtain and often mean women are paid less than men doing the same job on a full-time basis.
9. Gender pay gap
Women also earn less money than men do for doing similar jobs because there is a gender pay gap in most industries around the world (including STEM). It reflects the unequal treatment and opportunities faced by women in the workplace.
10. Socialization
Women are often socialized to believe that they are less competent than men and that they should not take leadership roles in organizations. In fact, research suggests that young girls are more likely than boys to be encouraged by their parents and teachers to pursue careers in traditionally female fields such as nursing or teaching.
Once in the workplace, women are often expected to focus on non-leadership roles such as administrative support staff rather than managerial positions
11. Inappropriate behavior from colleagues and supervisors
Women also report being subjected to inappropriate comments about their appearance or demeanor and having inappropriate photos taken without permission. This type of behavior can lead to women feeling threatened or uncomfortable at work, which can make it harder for them to focus on their career goals.
12. Maternity
The most obvious barrier to women’s career progression is maternity. Women face a double whammy when it comes to maternity: they are more likely than men to take time off work after having a child, and they will often have less support when they return to work. This can mean that they have to start over in terms of their career progression and in some cases they just never get back on track.
13. Domestic and caring responsibilities
Women often feel like they need to sacrifice their family life in order to attain senior positions at work. They may have to travel frequently, which means they have less time available for caregiving duties at home or they may need to move away from family members who are also important caregivers in their lives (children, elderly parents).
It can also mean that motherhood becomes even more challenging for women since taking time off work after giving birth can impact career progression significantly if it results in fewer promotions or fewer raises over time.
14. Masculinity
Many women feel uncomfortable working in a male-dominated environment. It is common for women to be sexualized, objectified and excluded from projects on account of their gender. These are some of the key barriers that women face in the workplace. Women also face discrimination from coworkers who perceive them as not being as capable as male coworkers. This often leads to women being overlooked for promotions or raises.
15. Femininity stigma
The first thing to acknowledge is that femininity can be an obstacle for women in business. They are socialized to be more emotional, soft, weak and nurturing than men. These qualities are not always valued in the workplace, rather it is perceived as less appealing as leaders.
Also, because of their femininity, they expect women to be agreeable and gentle. But when women behave assertively or competitively, they’re seen as “bitchy.”
How to Overcome Obstacles and Barriers Women Face in Developing Careers
Women have faced a lot of obstacles throughout the years. From being paid less than men, to not being taken seriously in the workplace, and even being looked down upon for taking maternity leave. All of these factors have made it difficult for many women to develop a career. However, there are ways to overcome these obstacles.
1. Develop a strong network of female mentors
Women can benefit from having a strong network of female mentors. These mentors can help them navigate their careers and help them identify opportunities for professional development and advancement.
2. Inclusive culture
CEOs should be clear about what kind of culture they want in their organization and how they expect employees to behave with one another. Leaders must enforce policies that promote inclusion across all aspects of working life, including recruitment practices, performance management processes and promotions decisions
3. Be confident
This may sound like some sort of cliché, but it’s true. Women tend to be more self-critical and less confident than men when it comes to their own capabilities and potential.
Instead of trying to downplay your achievements or avoid talking about yourself, remember that confidence is an essential part of success. If you want to advance in your career, you need to be willing to put yourself out there. If you believe in yourself, others will too.
4. Achieving work-life balance
Work-life balance is an important aspect of every woman’s life. It is vital for both personal and professional success. Women can find a way to achieve this balance by making time for themselves and their family.
They should try to set aside time each day or week that they can use as they please, whether it be having dinner with friends or going on vacation with the family. This will help them feel more relaxed and less stressed during the working week; which will make them happier and more productive in their jobs overall.
Conclusion
In the past, women were expected to stay at home and take care of the family. They were not allowed to work outside their homes. However, over time, many women have taken up various careers and are excelling in them. However, despite the fact that women now pursue careers, there are still many obstacles that they have to face.
