The Effect of Glass Ceiling on Women Advancement: A Case Study of Financial Institutions in Bangladesh

Glass ceiling, a widely practiced but unrevealed obstacle for the development of women and minorities towards executive and upper level of managerial hierarchy in the organizations. At the present time this issue is drawing more attention from human resource practitioners around the globe. In developed and developing countries, women's empowerment is the burning issue as the economy can reach its peak through the participation of all genders. In Bangladesh also women are engaging more in jobs specifically in the financial sector and contributing to the economy at large volume. But the disparity between male and women participation at the decision-making level raises the question of the presence of a glass ceiling and the factors contributing to the glass ceiling in the financial sector of Bangladesh. Based on the survey by using structured questionnaires from the commercial banks of Dhaka City Corporation, this study explores organizational factors, explicitly the absence of human resource practices responsible for creating glass ceilings and its presence at the workplace. Using factor analysis and multiple regressions among the six factors, the study found five factors have a significant contribution to the presence of glass ceiling and thus creating barriers to women's advancement. The factors include recruitment practices, performance appraisal, promotion policy, maintenance issues and equal employment opportunities. Policy implications are discussed in light of the findings to minimize glass ceiling effect to contribute gender parity, women's advancement and reducing gender discrimination.