Glass ceiling perceptions of public employees

The fact that a woman enters the working life is important in terms of providing her a place in social life and development of the society. However, as the results of the previous research indicate, although women are involved in work life, they do not take part in the senior management positions satisfactorily, and they perceive a glass ceiling that they cannot overcome. There are many factors which cause glass ceiling syndrome and form barriers in front of women's advancement in organizations; and it is important for organizations to understand and solve the problems associated with it. In accordance, the aim of this study is to determine the relationship between glass ceiling barriers and glass ceiling perceptions. In this respect, a research was conducted in a public institution in Ankara with 250 participants. According to the findings of the research, endurance perceptions, which indicate the belief that women can overcome the glass ceiling when they are given the opportunity, were higher than the other dimensions which are denial, abandonment and acceptance. Significant differences between females and males, between married women and married men, between single women and single men, and according to educational level were obtained in terms of both glass ceiling perceptions and glass ceiling barriers. Furthermore, significant relations were found out between glass ceiling barriers and glass ceiling perceptions. The effect of organizational culture and policies on denial dimension represents the most significant effect according to research findings. In addition, it was found out that denial is positively affected by more barriers when compared to other dimensions. Moreover, the findings represent that individual barriers, which are multiple role asseting and personal choice and preferences; organizational barriers, which are organizational culture and policies and mentoring; and social barriers, which are professional discrimination and stereotypes, have an effect on at least one of the dimensions of glass ceiling perceptions. However, only informal communication and networks, which is one of the organizational barriers, does not effect any of the dimensions of glass ceiling perceptions.