Barriers to women’s career advancement

Despite the growing awareness of the gender gap in career progression, women remain significantlyunderrepresented in top-level positions in traditionally male-dominated sectors such as ICT and aviation. This studyexplores various factors that hinder women's career advancement, supported by empirical data from ICT professionals inSouth Africa, interviews with senior women ICT managers in Lithuania, and an analysis of structural and cultural barriersin the aviation industry. Key challenges include male-dominated corporate cultures, low self-confidence, limited accessto training and mentorship, work-life imbalance, and the long-term effects of gender stereotypes and societal norms.The article outlines interventions at individual, organizational, and societal levels and categorizes the challenges asintrapersonal or environmental. Proposed solutions include self-empowerment, continuous education, inclusive workplacecultures, mentoring programs, visible role models, and supportive public policies. This article provides a comprehensivecross-national and cross-sectoral analysis of the institutional and personal barriers women face and offers practicalsolutions for achieving gender equity in career advancement