The Female Retailer, a Woman Amongst Men : An Interview Study about Women’s Advancement within ICA

Abstract: This study explores attitudes and constructions regarding the low number of female entre- preneurs within the Swedish grocery retailer company ICA. Through interviews and a focus group with women within ICA as well as a thematic analysis, this study confirms previous re- search; of women meeting hinders on the labor market, not due to inadequate leadership-skills but on gender-barriers impeding women to become leader, chiefs, and entrepreneurs. The study concludes that although ICA works to attain more female entrepreneurs the gendered structures within the organization have established a norm of male leadership and a reliance on the independent retailer to see your competence behind the gender.