Advancing Women in Leadership; Crossing Borders: An Analysis of the
Barriers and Attributes of Organisations in India
Prof. S. K. Srivastava and Sakshi Bajpai
C.S.J.M. University Kanpur, India

Abstract: In India, the situation of women is varying with more and more women getting educated not only in common streams but also in industrial and professional courses. Along with their rising level of education in a variety of streams there has been substantial increase in their workforce contribution. Women have attained incredible achievement in what was once considered the “male domain”, of the working world. Advancement of women in supervision jobs has not kept pace with the correspondence boost in the number of working women. Their existence in senior management level is insignificant. Women are graduating and entering management positions, yet there is a bottleneck at middle management levels while entry is easier, progression slows down after the middle level and in most situations, regardless of their technical and professional qualifications or achievements, women are prevented from climbing up in the corporate ladder to reach the top. Women comprise a large segment of the available managerial talent across the globe, but their representation at top level managerial positions in business and public administration, is very low. This study provides background information on issues pertaining to women image and addresses the problems and barriers encountered by millions of working women in industries. However there are certain constrains faced by Indian women managers which are unique to Indian situation and are more to do with cultural and social factors which can be traced back to deep rooted images of traditional women’s role.

Keywords: leadership, women managers, Indian women, industries, barriers.