Abstract:
Empowerment of economic status among women is one of the most significant tasks
in any economy, as it provides them with the same positions in society and in the
organizations where they work, enabling economic outcomes through their valuable
participation in the economy. The glass ceiling (GC) describes the barriers that
hinder women from attaining the same levels of power and success as men. Therefore,
even though women are an important part of the economy, they still struggle with
their career development due to various GC factors that interrupt their access to top
decision-making and management positions in various industries. Thus, this study
examines the GC factors affecting women’s career development among working
women in the Colombo District. Accordingly, the study collected primary data
through an online survey questionnaire, mainly open-ended responses, from 56
educated women working in both the government and corporate sectors, selected
through purposive sampling. The analysis was conducted using qualitative
summative content analysis, as it is appropriate for open-ended survey responses.
The findings of the study revealed various family, organizational, cultural, individual,
and gender-based factors that hinder women’s career development. Accordingly, the
results of the current study help policymakers and organizations design and
implement strategies to offer equal access and opportunities and empower women to
achieve higher career success. Future research could examine other districts in Sri
Lanka or a broader population to validate and expand these insights.
