”VI MÅSTE LEVERERA PÅ MYCKET HÖGRE NIVÅ FÖR ATT ACCEPTERAS” - En studie om kvinnliga chefers förutsättningar i kvinnodominerad respektive mansdominerad kontext

Abstract

Sweden is often presented as a role model for other countries regarding democracy and gender equality. However, a horizontal division between the sexes regarding the orientation of education and hence the choice of work, which in turn means that the labor market is severely divided into sexes, is depicted. Furthermore, a vertical division is formed which leads to the difference in influence and power between the sexes. This vertical division is manifested by the fact that the men are strongly over-represented in top management. The aim of our study is to increase the understanding of the women who are managers and are operating in women-dominated and male-dominated context. Does the context affect the leadership? We want to investigate the conditions, opportunities and obstacles they experience relative to their gender. Theory and previous research indicate that factors such as male homosociality, stereotypes and expectations of women linked to roles, tasks, interests, characteristics, and glass ceiling influence a woman's managerial career in different ways. Our main theory is Acker (1990), which deals with how gendered structures maintain and recreate the gender order in both society and organizations. Before our own research, we experienced an inadequacy in previous research that combines women-dominated and male-dominated industry, after which we decided that this would be our knowledge contribution. Our approach has been ten qualitative interviews where female managers from women- and men dominated industries have shared their experiences about the role as a manager, conditions, obstacles and opportunities during their career. 3 Our results are presented as a comparison between the two groups, prevailing differences and similarities. The main findings show that organizations and tasks are overall gendered. Significant differences are the occurrence of sexual harassment and whether the manager in each context relates to one's gender. Significant similarities are the existence of homosociality and an experienced problem of parenthood and society's expectations of women. Our conclusion is that as a woman you have the best opportunities for career advancement in a women-dominated industry. A career in a male-dominated industry is of course possible, but with other conditions, opportunities and obstacles.