Perception of Success Factors of Women in Leadership Roles:
An Exploratory Study of Gender and Glass Ceiling in China
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59319/arete.v3i2.944Keywords:
Glass ceiling, gender, women leaders, china, barriers and success factors to leadership roles, leadership development, socialcultural, organiational, individual factors, gender roles, leadership positionAbstract
Background: This study explores the enduring issue of the glass ceiling in China—a metaphor for the invisible barriers that hinder women’s career advancement. Despite progress in gender equality, a significant gap remains in leadership representation. Objectives: The research investigates how individual, organizational, and socio-cultural factors influence perceptions of the glass ceiling among 548 professional women across various industries and job titles. Methods/Approach: The study employs a comprehensive analytical framework to examine perceptions through the lens of personal attributes, workplace dynamics, and sociocultural norms. It compares responses between women in leadership roles and those who are not, highlighting differences in their experiences and viewpoints. Results: The findings emphasize the empowering role of individual traits, such as strong networking, self-efficacy, and work-life balance skills. Organizational factors—primarily support systems and belief in women’s advancement—are pivotal. Sociocultural influences, including gender role expectations, also shape perceptions. Women in leadership positions view organizational factors as more critical to career progression than individual or cultural ones. The study identifies six essential skills for women aspiring to leadership, offering practical strategies for advancement. Conclusions: The research highlights the multifaceted nature of the glass ceiling and provides a strategic framework for women seeking to overcome it. By contrasting the paths of those who have attained leadership with those still facing barriers, the study provides insights into workplace gender dynamics in contemporary Chinese society. It contributes to the broader pursuit of gender equity.
Author Biographies
Hongmei Han, Professor, Institute of Disaster Prevention, Sanhe City, Hebei Province, China
Hongmei Han, PhD OD, is a Professor of English Language and Literature and serves as the Vice Dean of the School of Foreign Languages at the Institute of Disaster Prevention in the People’s Republic of China. Her scholarly pursuits encompass a range of disciplines, including English teaching, translation studies, corpus linguistics, and Organization Development (OD). Her unique focus lies in bridging the gap between OD theories and their practical application in English education. She has innovatively initiated the bilingual “Mindful Leadership” course at the Institute, specifically designed to prepare future leaders for emergency settings. Additionally, she has successfully integrated leadership training into the college students' career readiness curriculum, enhancing their preparedness for the professional world. She once served as the Vice President of Communication for the International Federation of Scholarly Associations of Management (IFSAM) and is a board member of the Asia OD Network (AODN).
Mengdi Liu, Assumption University (PhD candidate), Bangkok, Thailand
Mengdi Liu, a PhD. OD candidate in ABAC Graduate School of Business and Advanced Technology Management, Assumption University, Thailand, a former Hanban Professional/Full-time Chinese Teacher in both University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing, China, and Confucius Institute in Assumption University (CIAU) in Bangkok, Thailand, and the former Strategic Planning Manager and the Organization Development Manager in Jingtai International Group in Thailand and Yuxuan Halal Food Co., Ltd in Henan, China. She has an academic background in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL), Cross-cultural Communication, Strategic Planning, and Organizational Development. Her current research orientation is Crisis Management and Organizational Resilience.
Dr. Keith Miller, Assistant Professor, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, USA
Keith Miller, MSW, PhD., (He/They), is an assistant professor at the University of Indianapolis in the Phylis Lin Lan Department of Social Work. He uses evidence from social epidemiology and social capital to promote health equity through community-based interventions and policy advocacy. Keith co-founded Pathway LLC, which aims to increase access to mental healthcare in southern Indianapolis and has also provided statistical analysis and policy development in partnership with the Indiana Council of Community Mental Centers and the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. In addition to his research and practice, Keith incorporates a pedagogy of liberation in his teaching and learning. He believes in the power of small collaborative groups to create meaningful change in their communities. Keith’s goal is to cultivate a sense of belonging through creativity, relationships, and science, and to work towards a world where people feel a sense of autonomy, dignity, and meaningful connection.
Emerita Professor Lin, Emerita Professor, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, USA
Phylis Lan Lin, PhD, Professor Emerita, University of Indianapolis (UIndy), serves as the senior advisor to the Asia Organization Development (AODN). She received the UIndy Meritorious Award in recognition of 45 years of dedicated teaching, administration, and service. Dr. Lin received a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Missouri in 1972. She is a prolific writer and editor in both Chinese and English, having authored numerous research papers, monographs, and books, including Organizational Behavior, Stress Management: Enhancing Quality of Life, Marriage and the Family, Crisis Intervention: Theory and Practice, Service-Learning in Higher Education, and Medical Sociology, among others. She organized and chaired the International Symposium on China, the International Symposium on Service-Learning, and the International Symposium on Families: East and West. She established the University of Indianapolis Press. The Master Au-Ho-Nien Museum, founded in 2004 at the University of Indianapolis (UIndy), is one of her enduring cultural legacies. Dr. Lin established the Social Work Program at the University of Indianapolis in 1997. The Program has expanded over the years and is now named Phylis Lan Lin School of Social Work and Counselling in her honor.
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