Assessing the Glass Ceiling Effect for Women in Tourism and Hospitality

Abstract

The aim of this research is to explore the degree to which women face various barriers that prevent them as a worker in the tourism sector, in the city of Aqaba located in Jordan, from obtaining upper-level positions. These include internal business structural barriers, societal barriers, governmental barriers, situational barriers, and personal barriers. A total of 200 questionnaire containing 27 items was used to collect information from women who are working in the industries of tourism and hospitality. Results of the current study revealed that all the above barriers are applied to moderate and low levels in which the range of the mean score are 2.16-3.35 out of 4. This study shall provide important feedback to decision-makers to enhance and empower the women further in the tourism and hospitality disciplines specifically in Aqaba city.