Impact of Glass Ceiling Barriers on Women's Career Development: A Study of the Sri Lankan Apparel Sector with Marital Status as A Moderator

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors contributing to the glass ceiling and their impact on women's career development in Sri Lanka's apparel sector with a focus on the moderating role of marital status. Quantitative data was collected from 100 female employees in a selected apparel company within the Koggala Free Trade Zone using a structured questionnaire. The analysis was conducted using SPSS and the PROCESS macro. The findings reveal that personal and social barriers significantly negatively impact women’s career development. Further, marital status moderates the relationship between glass ceiling factors and women's career development. These findings provide empirical evidence for the challenges faced by women in the apparel industry. These findings suggest the need of addressing glass ceiling factors (such as personal and social factors) to promote female upward mobility within the apparel sector organization in Sri Lanka. It also highlights the targeted interventions to mitigate challenges faced by married women in their professional growth.