Gender differences in perceptions about glass ceiling and affective commitment in the banking sector

Abstract

An “invisible barrier”, the glass ceiling is an unacknowledged and unspoken impediment inhibiting professional advancement, prominently impacting women and minorities. Irrespective of one’s achievements and qualifications, the glass ceiling remains an unbreakable barrier. This facet of discrimination against women is evident and prevalent at each step of the way, from entering the corporate world to accomplishing goals to seeking newer and advanced opportunities. There is no denying the active role of the glass ceiling in the organizational domain in India. However, recent research has shown that there is one sector in India which has shown a steady increase in employing women - the banking sector and so it was considered worthwhile to examine the attitude of employees in this sector. The present study examines the differences in perception of women and men about the glass ceiling phenomenon, its relationship with affective commitment and explored the gender differences in affective commitment. The Career Pathways Survey by Smith et al. (2012) and Affective Commitment Scale by Meyer and Allen in 1997 were used. It consistence with previous researchers, in the present study no significant gender differences were found in the perception of glass ceiling amongst women and men. Moderate positive relations were found between affective commitment and denial; resignation; resilience; acceptance. A low positive relation was found between distributive justice and affective commitment. Even for affective commitment, no gender differences were found. Therefore, indicating that perhaps India is progressing towards a breakthrough in the banking sector with an increasing number of female employment the banking sector.