Gelisim News

There is an increase in the number of female managers in the 2nd and 3rd generation of family companies

Every day, many people are discriminated against on many issues such as age, race, disability or gender. This situation creates disadvantages in terms of participation in education, employment and social life. Studies conducted in recent years have revealed that women who take an active role in business life are more exposed to intimidation and discrimination compared to male employees. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gülay Tamer, from Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health Management stated women are employed in jobs with lower qualifications than men. In family companies, on the other hand, there was an increase in the number of female managers in the years when the management passed to the 2nd and 3rd generations.

Women are most exposed to discrimination in this sector!

The vast majority of female administrators think that the reason for the low number of female executives in our country stems from the patriarchal social structure. In the studies conducted on women working in the banking-insurance sector, textile-clothing sector and tourism sector in previous years, it was revealed that women mostly experienced occupational discrimination in the textile and clothing sector.  The studies conducted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gülay Tamer, from the Department of Health Management of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU), indicated that in the male-dominated business life, the responsibility of women in both daily and business life is higher than men, causing women to put themselves in the background.

Women try to balance their work life and private life

One of the reasons why women cannot reach the upper echelons is that they are excluded from the already established male order. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gülay Tamer said, “Men working in the same workplace can also be together outside of work for social activities. However, women cannot take part in many meetings outside of work. The reason for this is that women need to establish a balance between private life and work life in their working life. Many women try to spare time for their home and family by making significant sacrifices in their social lives. The fact that working hours are regulated in a way that forces women's home life also changes the balance in business life.”

“Women put invisible barriers on themselves”

Women are exposed to inequality in many aspects, from the salaries they receive to the premiums they receive throughout their working life. Women who are actively involved in business life are often exposed to the glass ceiling effect in order to balance between business life and private life. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gülay Tamer said, “Many female employees state that their professional qualifications in their business life or in the structures they are involved in are not seen as sufficient compared to male employees and they are exposed to double standards. This is due to the 'glass ceiling effect', an invisible barrier imposed on female workers by male workers and society. For centuries, due to the patriarchal social structure, women were mostly directed to work to be done at home. Today, there are still managers who have similar thoughts. In such environments, female employees only plan to go up to a certain level in their careers after a while, and they set themselves invisible barriers.”



 
Translator’s note: The glass ceiling effect is the pervasive resistance to the efforts of women and minorities to reach the top ranks of management in major corporations.