Title: Shatter the glass ceiling; exploring the characteristics of women leaders in the school education sector of Sri Lanka

Authors: K.D.S.T.D. Kalutara; H.A.K.N.S. Surangi

Addresses: Department of Commerce and Financial Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka ' Department of Commerce and Financial Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Abstract: Even though many scholars have researched the glass ceiling phenomenon throughout the past years, it is still a mystery to be solved as the most attention is given to the barriers but not to how women shatter the ceiling. This research explores the characteristics of women who made attempts to break through the ceiling. This study has been conducted as a qualitative study through eight in-depth interviews with women in school education management in Sri Lanka. The researcher identified seven characteristics of women that have enabled them to shatter the glass ceiling, and these characteristics have been presented under two separate categories, personal and social, based on the nature of their use. The study reveals that leadership is not a gender-limited art. However, it could be gender-inclusive, where both masculine and feminine attributes could be collaboratively utilised for the effective functioning of an organisation through cultural feminism.

Keywords: the glass ceiling; leadership characteristics; education management; school education system; Sri Lanka; cultural feminism.

DOI: 10.1504/MEJM.2024.140919

Middle East Journal of Management, 2024 Vol.11 No.5, pp.520 - 538

Received: 15 Apr 2023
Accepted: 20 May 2023
Published online: 03 Sep 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article