ANALYSIS OF DETERMINANTS INFLUENCING GENDER DISPARITIES IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WITHIN THE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR OF SRI LANKA: EVIDENCE OF GLASS CEILING

The term 'Glass Ceiling' refers to invisible yet impenetrable barriers that prevent women and minorities from climbing to top positions, regardless of their accomplishments. To address the existing gap in this particular field of research, the study highlights the urgent need to prioritize diversity, acknowledge the leadership potential of women, and foster inclusive environments that support women in reaching senior academic roles in the Sri Lankan context. The analysis utilized a web-based structured questionnaire with five-point Likert scale questions to gather data from 290 female academics in Sri Lankan state universities through purposive sampling. The study deployed Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to identify the relationship and magnitude between variables. The analysis revealed significant inverse correlations between Cultural Barriers (r = -0.108, p = 0.000), Family Barriers (r = -0.095, p = 0.000), and Perceived Discrimination (r = -0.266, p = 0.000) with women's career progression, while Organizational Environment (r = 0.086, p = 0.000) and Motivation and Satisfaction (r = 0.566, p = 0.000) positively impacted their career progression. Hence the findings of the research strongly suggest reducing the gender-based disparities in leadership roles within academia. The study provides valuable implications to empower women for leadership roles while highlighting the role of the higher education system and relevant authorities in Sri Lanka. Keywords: , , , ,