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Abstract

This dissertation explores the journey of leadership through the lens of gender within the recruitment industry, an industry in which literature has failed to acknowledge so far. Existing academia offers explanations as to why women still remain underrepresented within positions of leadership, however, has mainly focused on the lived experiences of female within leadership, failing to acknowledge thoughts of male leaders and how they interpret the gender bias and inequality within the workplace. This research therefore seeks to investigate both male and female journeys of leadership, looking specifically at; how participants define ‘leadership’ and what motivates them to a pursue a leadership role. What risks and implications are individuals faced with when they strive for leadership and finally looking through the lens of gender, what are the barriers specific genders face and how are these individually and institutionally overcome?
Five participants; two male and three females were recruited via a combination of convenience sampling and a referral process via a gatekeeper. Participants were then interviewed with a set of semi-structured questions, with an average of 63 minutes per interview. Data was then coded and analysed thematically with findings suggesting that; gender appeared to be considered less of a barrier than previous literature had suggested, numerous factors may have been the cause of this; female participants lacked domestic responsibilities, so findings were not representative of the wider population. Age posed a greater determent to leadership success than gender with further emphasis of personal performance as barrier than actual institutional impediments which the literature had exposed throughout this study. Whilst gender has been thoroughly investigating in relation to leadership age especially leaders who are young have had little exposure. Furthermore, gender barriers were apparent however not to the degree or level whereby participants acknowledged they were held back from achieving their leadership status.

Course: Sociology with Pyschology - BSc (Hons) - C1509

Date Deposited: 2022-05-16

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13902.html