Women in management : a Singapore perspective

Abstract

In Singapore, women in managerial positions are a common sight as compared to thirty years back. One obvious reason is because of the changing role of women from that of a homemaker to that of a career woman. In the early years of this transition, women experienced many barriers when carving a niche for themselves in the corporate world. These obstacles arose mainly due to the slow acceptance of women by men as co-workers. However, most male colleagues and subordinates in the corporate world now are of a different breed. They have grown accustomed to the idea of women committing themselves to a career, having mothers or wives as career women. Therefore women should be experiencing less obstacles now as they climb the corporate ladder compared to their older counterparts. This study is undertaken to look at the obstacles faced by women managers as they climb the corporate ladder and after they have attained their managerial positions, in the context of Singapore. This study examines the topic using different approaches. It will look at whether the obstacles remain the same through the different generations of women managers and how the obstacles have been overcome. The study also invites respondents to state which new hurdles they think Will be met by women managers in the future. A profile of successful women managers is also been constructed. The respondents to the study were found through sending questionnaires to women managers in the five major industries that make up Singapore's economy. Their responses to the questionnaires form the findings of the study upon which analysis and conclusions are based. The study hopes to present findings that will be of relevance to future similar studies or extended studies of the topic: "Women In Management".