Question

A barrier to women’s advancement in leadership positions is ______.

a. women are less likely to promote themselves for leadership positions
b. women are more likely to view their roles as workers as secondary to family roles
c. women have less motivation to lead
d. women’s lack of interest in assuming high-level leadership positions

Answer 1

The barrier to women's advancement in leadership positions often lies in stereotypes, the glass ceiling effect, and a scarcity of mentors for women, all contributing to systemic gender inequalities within professional environments.

Step-by-step explanation:

A barrier to women’s advancement in leadership positions includes a range of socio-cultural and systemic factors. Some key obstacles are stereotypes about women’s assertiveness, the glass ceiling caused by discrimination, and a lack of mentors for women in leadership roles.

Prescriptive stereotypes, often informed by gender roles, tend to penalize women for asserting themselves in the same way men are praised, leading to a slower advancement to leadership positions. Men's contributions are celebrated more regularly, while similar actions by women can go unrecognized.

Additionally, the glass ceiling represents an invisible but significant barrier, hindering women's progress due to discriminatory practices that pervade many organizations.

Moreover, women might have a more challenging time finding mentors who can influence their professional development and expose them to essential networking opportunities. These factors contribute to the underrepresentation of women in high-level leadership roles, both historically and within modern corporate structures.