Career Development Challenges for Women Pursuing Leadership in India

Abusive supervisors and employees who cyberloaf

“…5 5.6) and the large majority were male (81 percent). Although in a western context, this rate of gender disparity may appear high, it is quite consistent with managerial demographic distribution in India (Smetana et al, 2018). Overall, 30.8 percent of the respondents were from junior-level management, 60.2 percent of the respondents were from middle-level management and the remaining participants were senior-level management employees.…”

Women’s Professional Career and Culture: Software Organizations in India

“…A large number of women who are entering the workforce in the Indian IT industry are first-generation women professionals (Valk & Srinivasan, 2011) and as such, they have very little support or understanding from their families (Meena, 2015). Women are always expected to take care of household chores, even if they share bread earning responsibilities (Smetana et al, 2018). By reconciling the family with professional striving, women are able to assert “appropriate difference”—to lay claim to the global while remaining “Indian” (Upadhya, 2012).…”

“…In a transitioning society like India, where the traditional roles of women as homemakers and caretakers are deeply entrenched, the work family balance becomes a challenge for women and their employers (Smetana et al, 2018; Valk & Srinivasan, 2011). A large number of women who are entering the workforce in the Indian IT industry are first-generation women professionals (Valk & Srinivasan, 2011) and as such, they have very little support or understanding from their families (Meena, 2015).…”

“…This shows that women require social acceptance in order to continue working successfully. Numerous studies have demonstrated that personal social support is positively associated with the work-family balance and of particular importance is support from the husband (Valk & Srinivasan, 2011) whereas lack of family support can lead to stress and loss of self-confidence (Smetana et al, 2018).…”

Comparing barriers and enablers of women’s health leadership in India with East Africa and North America

“… 14 Another study on women’s leadership in India found women faced family pressure to marry rather than pursue a career, had the added burden of caste stereotypes, and experienced an overall lack of networking opportunities. 15 Other researchers found a lack of gender sensitive employer policies and the need for more flexible work locations 8 (which may have improved since the onset of COVID—but no research is published yet). In Africa, women workers reported enduring sexual harassment, a work culture that discourages pregnancy, and encountering difficulty being promoted if they are perceived as outspoken.…”