GENDER ASPECTS OF WOMEN’S CAREER TRAJECTORIES IN RUSSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17072/2218-1067-2024-1-73-81Keywords:
gender; career trajectories; informal institutions; feminist institutionalism; civil society; private sectorAbstract
Gender inequality is a prevalent issue across many professions and countries, including Russia. This article explores the unequal professional opportunities for women in a comparative view, specifically why women are underrepresented in leadership positions within the public and private sectors, while being widely represented in civil society institutions. The study is based on a comparison of the public, private, and civil society sectors to examine factors that may impede or facilitate women's career paths. Drawing upon feminist institutionalism, it explores how formal and informal institutions impact women's career trajectories in Russia. Qualitative content analysis of in-depth interviews with 23 women in leadership positions informs the empirical analysis. The study highlights the impact of gender stereotypes, social norms, economic factors, and the recruitment system on women's professional growth across all industries. Notably, while the private sector endeavors to attain gender parity, women grapple with career advancement challenges and limited access to leadership roles in the public sector. Conversely, the civil society sector evinces contrasting realities. Gender imbalance has been perpetuated by entrenched discriminatory stereotypes and societal norms that favor the high representation of women.References
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