Identifying the Challenges of Breaking the Glass Ceiling with an Organizational Bullying Approach among Women in the Ministry of Sports and Youth and Providing Solutions
Subject Areas :Mona Mirzaei 1 , Majid Solimani 2 , Adel Afkar 3
1 - PhD student in sports management, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education, Malayer Branch, Islamic Azad University, Malayer, Iran
3 - Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education, Malayer Branch, Islamic Azad University, Malayer, Iran
Keywords: challenges of breaking the glass ceiling, organizational bullying, solution to break the glass ceiling, women of the Ministry of Sports and Youth,
Abstract :
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Women, as the most effective members of society, who are responsible for the largest share of the internal administration of the family as a social unit, play the most fundamental role in the education and development of society. Due to the special role they play in creation, women are equipped with very precious internal capitals that human society needs in its growth. Women constitute almost half of the people of every society and are considered the creators and nurturers of future generations. They are a potential and important human resource in the scientific, social and cultural development of the country; therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to their career advancement path. Despite women's knowledge and awareness, they do not participate in social and political affairs to the same extent. Statistics also confirm that despite having a university education, women do not enjoy a growing career status and are commensurate with men. This is while the level and degree of development of any human society depends on the comprehensive participation and complete social and civic self-education of individuals. Since sports management structures in Iran are influenced by macro-social, cultural, and economic policies, a detailed examination of women's challenges in this area can help policymakers, sports managers, and related institutions develop practical solutions to reduce organizational discrimination and create equal opportunities for women. This research can take an important step towards developing sports management and increasing women's participation in decision-making levels by providing a localized model to combat the glass ceiling in Iranian sports. Since no research has yet examined the challenges of breaking the glass ceiling with an organizational bullying approach among women in the offices of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, this study aimed to examine the challenges of breaking the glass ceiling with an organizational bullying approach among women in the Ministry of Sports and Youth and to provide solutions.
Methodology
The present study was a descriptive survey research and was conducted cross-sectionally. The present study was also an applied research. In terms of data collection, this study was considered quantitative and qualitative (mixed). In this study, the statistical population of the qualitative part included experts who have scientific expertise and work experience in the field of sports and human resources in sports organizations (preferably familiar with the concept of the glass ceiling), which included university professors, experts and researchers who have characteristics such as experience, suitability of the field of study, at least a master's degree, employment in university, research and writing experience in this field (having research projects, books and reputable articles), as well as managers and experts from the Ministry of Sports and Youth of the country. Regarding the number of experts and how they were selected, it should be stated that one of the experts was presented with the above-mentioned conditions in this field for consultation, and after consulting with him, the next expert was selected and introduced by the same expert; After presenting the model to the experts, all of them were selected in this way. It seems that the initial model has been formed and new dimensions are not being created, so the number of experts was selected based on theoretical saturation and the targeted snowball method to be 15 experts; and the statistical population of the quantitative part of the research included all female managers and experts of the Ministry of Sports and Youth in the country's sports federations, 230 people, who were working in this organization in 2023. Also, the statistical sample size in the quantitative part was selected using the G-Power software and a stratified random method to be 176 people.
Results
The results obtained from the qualitative part of the research using the one-sample T-test and Kendall coefficient using SPSS software showed that 55 components were identified as challenges to break the glass ceiling with an organizational bullying approach in women of the Ministry of Sports and Youth. Also, quantitative analysis using the one-sample T-test and Kendall coefficient confirmed that the relationships between the dimensions and components of the challenges are significant. The structural equation model also showed that structural, behavioral, and contextual challenges predict 85% of the criterion variable, and the goodness of fit index (GOF) showed a value of 0.535, indicating a very strong quality of the model. It is suggested that anti-discrimination and anti-bullying policies for organizations and creating equal opportunities for women in the workplace be developed and implemented. Increasing the awareness of managers, empowering women through management training, and promoting a meritocracy culture in sports organizations can be effective in reducing barriers to breaking the glass ceiling.
Discussion and Conclusion
In recent decades, increasing the presence of women in management positions has been one of the sustainable development goals in many countries; however, there are still several obstacles to women's advancement to senior management levels, one of the most important of which is the glass ceiling phenomenon. This phenomenon refers to invisible but effective barriers that prevent women from advancing to senior management positions. In addition to the glass ceiling, organizational bullying is also known as one of the important challenges in workplaces that has a negative impact on women's career growth. The present study aimed to investigate the challenges of breaking the glass ceiling with an organizational bullying approach among women in the Ministry of Sports and Youth. The findings of this study showed that various challenges, including structural, behavioral, and contextual factors, are influential in the persistence of the glass ceiling and organizational bullying. According to the results obtained, it is suggested that increasing managers' awareness of the role of women in sports management through holding training courses, creating organizational policies to protect women against organizational bullying, developing anti-discrimination laws to promote women to management levels, promoting a culture of meritocracy and hiring based on capabilities instead of gender, increasing empowerment programs for women in the Ministry of Sports and Youth, holding training workshops on combating gender stereotypes in the workplace, developing support networks for women at management levels, and reforming hiring and promotion processes to ensure gender justice.
Keywords: challenges of breaking the glass ceiling, organizational bullying, solution to break the glass ceiling, women of the Ministry of Sports and Youth
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