The Challenges Experienced by Females in Leading Positions within a Male-dominated organisation : A feministic study

Abstract: The study is conducted in cooperation with a gender research group, at Mid Sweden University as a part of their larger study of gender equality within the organisation SCA. The purpose is to identify the challenges that females experience as leaders within male-dominated industries. The research approach is based on social constructivism philosophy and with an abductive reasoning approach. The empirical data were gathered with a qualitative method, usinginterviews as a research tool. The analysis was conducted with temple analysis method. The research’s findings showed that the organisation had a stereotype of a leader that connects the ideal leader to the male stereotype, that creates challenges for females in leading positions. It also indicated that the organisation had masculine structures and that it values employee’s that are being decisive, competitive, result-focused, etc. The research result also indicated that thestereotypes in the organisation are creating challenges for females in both operating abilities and challenges with advancing/get employment as a leader.