The effect of gender perception on career development of women managers: A research in the tourism sector

Society consists of two sexes and the factors that differentiate the sexes from each other are biological factors. In many societies, differences between the sexes are seen as more than simple biological differences and gender discrimination is justified by associating it with this situation. With the reflections of gender discrimination on cultures, women were burdened with the responsibility of domestic work due to their fertility characteristics and men were burdened with the responsibility of out-of-home work due to their physical strength. In the past, it took time for women to enter the business life, and it was reflected in the professions and brought about difference and discrimination. With the existence of women in working life, the norms that men will take care of domestic work outside the home and women have begun to lose their meaning. Despite this, occupations are grouped according to whether people are men or women. Today, it is very important for individual and social development of women in working life. When the 2021 TURKSTAT data is examined, it is seen that women are mostly in the service sector in our country. Especially in the tourism sector, it is seen that 54.2% of the employees are women. Despite this, the rate of women in decision-making positions in the tourism sector is below 15% . The aim of this research is to examine the effect of gender perception on the career development of women managers working in tourism. Within the scope of the research purpose, it was carried out in 5-star hotel enterprises in Istanbul. Interviews were conducted with 11 female managers working in these hotel enterprises. Purposeful sampling technique was used in the selection of participants. In the study prepared with qualitative research techniques, interviews were carried out with social networks such as Zoom and Messenger. The data were interpreted with descriptive analysis techniques. The opinions of the participants were examined under the themes of awareness, marginalization, acceptance, career development and problem solving. As a result of all evaluations, it was concluded that gender discrimination is less in the tourism sector compared to other sectors due to the high number of women's labor, yet it affects women in the career development process by feeling gender perception in different ways.