Women Navigating the Perennial Labyrinth to Managerial Positions: Their Reality, Their Challenges and the In-Between

Abstract

This study examined women's challenges in assuming managerial positions within the Maltese public Vocational Education and Training (VET) institutions. Through the semi-structured interviews using a feminist approach, this research acquired data from managerial women within the local, public VET institutions, i.e., MCAST and ITS. The data acquired revealed that the challenges women face in navigating managerial positions are perceived through the themes of 'Sociocultural factors', 'Gender roles', 'Perceived discrimination', 'Insufficient positive representation', and 'Lack of flexibility'. From this research, it transpired that flexibility encourages women to take managerial roles, and the solution towards gender parity in top positions lies within a change of perspective on a macro and micro level, as opposed to a few measures. The measures implied in this article refer to flexibility in hours and location of work, alongside a clear organisational structure allowing them to benefit from such resources. Furthermore, this research suggests a reform exercise on a national level, targeting parental, maternity, and paternal leave. Consequently, it is recommended that parental leave in Malta is increased drastically and made available to split evenly amongst both parents. Additionally, aiming to change societal expectations and stereotypes based on gender, this article points towards an educational campaign targeting different age brackets within the local population, starting from children up to the elderly.