A Study on Barriers to Women’s Career Advancement in Private Sector Companies in Malaysia

Abstract

The research was motivated by the desire to ascertain the progress Malaysia has made in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in ensuring equal rights for women. This includes ensuring women have equal opportunity to gain top management positions in organizations. The purpose of this research is to identify the barriers in women’s career advancement in private sector companies in Malaysia and the path by which gender stereotypes, family responsibilities, organizational cultures, and glass ceiling affect women’s career advancement. A total of 130 women employees from various private sector companies constitutes the sample. This research disclosed that gender stereotypes, family responsibilities, organizational cultures, and glass ceiling are significantly and positively related to women’s career advancement in Malaysian private sector companies.