The Effects of Social Prejudice and Glass Ceiling Syndrome on The Career Development of Women Assuming Leadership Positions in Management in Türkiye

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of social prejudice and glass ceiling syndrome on the career development of women in management leadership positions in Türkiye. The basic starting point of this study is the organizational prejudices, gender-based discrimination and invisible barriers that women managers have to deal with. In this context, the study aims to determine the social, cultural and institutional barriers that women face while working in leadership roles and to evaluate how these barriers affect their leadership philosophies and decision-making processes. A survey was conducted to collect data from 50 women working in management roles in various sectors in Türkiye and a mixed methodology was used in the study with quantitative and qualitative techniques for analysis. In addition to open-ended questions, participants were given statements that could be answered on a 5-point Likert scale. Frequency analysis, thematic analysis and mean score calculations were used to evaluate the data. In addition to obtaining statistical data, this approach provided the opportunity to learn from women about the events they experienced while assuming leadership positions and also included solution suggestions offered by them. According to the findings of the study, female leaders face more obstacles in their careers due to social prejudices than their male counterparts. Many interviewees identified the glass ceiling syndrome as an unnoticed but powerful obstacle. The majority of participants said that because they were women, their leadership abilities were questioned more often and that they had to work harder than their male counterparts to be accepted in positions of responsibility. It was also found that women’s achievements were not as well known or valued as those of men. However, there are encouraging indications that female leadership is being accepted and that gender-based discrimination is decreasing in some sectors. The theoretical contribution of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the prejudices against women in leadership roles in Türkiye and the existence of the glass ceiling syndrome, as well as its effects on women in leadership positions, within the context of gender and leadership theories. Subjects’ suggestions were used to promote equal representation in the field of leadership. According to the participants’ suggestions, mentoring programs that assist women in leadership roles, flexible working hours, childcare facilities, trainings focused on gender equality, and institutional policies prohibiting discrimination stand out. In this context, the aim of the thesis is to both contribute to academic literature and to provide guidance to institutions and policy makers on how to create more equitable and inclusive leadership environments.