Gender Inequality in the Aviation Industry: A Comparative Analysis on the Glass Ceiling Syndrome

Özet

Today, career development is among the important issues in terms of human resources. Career development can be defined as the process carried out by the human resources on behalf of their employees in order to have qualified human capital. When looking into careers, we find a topic known as "career problems," which is the subject of scientific inquiry. The glass ceiling syndrome is at the top of these problems. By comparing the representation rates of women in top management of East and West-based airline companies, this study assesses the current situation of the glass ceiling syndrome. While the female representation rate in airline companies in the ASEAN region is 28%, this rate is 27% in Western-based companies. This situation shows that women face significant obstacles in accessing leadership positions. Female representation rates’ being lower in airline companies based in the West reveals that gender equality cannot be achieved even in developed countries. The study emphasizes that increasing the proportion of women in top management is important for both social equality and institutional success. It is recommended that strategic steps be taken to ensure greater participation of women in leadership positions.