Unveiling the cultural dynamics of women's leadership aspirations: A comparative study between western and eastern societies

Abstract

The gender gap in the workplace and more so at the leadership level is a global challenge believed to be rooted in our culture. Where women are seen as the caretakers and not the providers, and leadership is associated with masculine characters. The level of cultural expectations of women varies globally; however, it is evident that it persists to this date. Women face barriers that hinder them from progressing to leadership positions. However, are cultural expectations of women different in the East from the West? Does this hinder women from ascending to leadership roles differently? A survey was conducted on working women across the East and West to address the question, utilizing it as primary research data. The secondary data was from various available literature reviews and similar studies conducted on the subject. A discussion was developed on the data, and a comparison was analyzed to draw a sound understanding of the topic. The survey results did not align completely with the established literature, concluding that biological and historical responsibilities largely influence cultural expectations across the globe and hinder women from becoming leaders. However, it mirrored to a certain extent that the West is more advanced than the East in its policy and acceptance of women emerging as leaders. It is recommended to start with hiring more females in the workplace and, more importantly, a fair practice. Opportunities and policies such as working remotely and flexible working hours can increase the number of women in leadership positions.

A disparidade de gênero no ambiente de trabalho, especialmente em cargos de liderança, é um desafio global enraizado na cultura. As mulheres são frequentemente vistas como cuidadoras, não provedoras, enquanto a liderança é associada a características masculinas. As expectativas culturais em relação às mulheres variam globalmente, persistindo até hoje. Mulheres enfrentam obstáculos que as impedem de alcançar cargos de liderança. Serão as expectativas culturais diferentes no Oriente em comparação com o Ocidente? Isso afeta a ascensão das mulheres a cargos de liderança de maneira distinta? Para responder, uma pesquisa com mulheres no Oriente e no Ocidente foi realizada, usando-a como principal fonte de dados, com secundários provenientes de revisões de literatura e estudos similares. Os resultados não se alinharam totalmente com a literatura estabelecida, concluindo que responsabilidades biológicas e históricas influenciam as expectativas culturais, impedindo as mulheres de se tornarem líderes. Refletiu, em certa medida, que o Ocidente está mais avançado em políticas e aceitação de mulheres líderes. Recomenda-se aumentar a contratação justa de mulheres no ambiente de trabalho, com oportunidades como trabalho remoto e horários flexíveis para impulsionar a presença feminina em cargos de liderança.