Female Leadership in Finland : Challenges and attitudes experienced by female leaders in different industries
Herrgård, Ida (2021)
Herrgård, Ida
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021052912446
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021052912446
Tiivistelmä
Finland is often thought to be a role model in questions regarding gender equality. Despite this, leadership positions in Finland are highly male dominated. This thesis is a qualitative study of female leaders’ experiences of challenges and attitudes during their career. Eleven women from two industries were interviewed for this thesis, and the industries chosen were the social and healthcare industry and the technology industry. These industries were chosen as the first one is highly female dominated and the second one is instead highly male dominated, due to the strong division of the Finnish labor market into female and male jobs. Challenges and attitudes were discussed through topics like equal treatment, acceptance, and support. The interviews were semi-structured to allow for free-flowing conversation, while still making it possible to compare the answers.
The results indicate that the women in both industries have faced relatively similar challenges and attitudes. The women in the technology industry had experienced somewhat more difficulties fitting in, due to the highly male dominated industry. Women in both groups had experienced difficulties with being taken seriously and being accepted. Overall, most of the women had positive experiences, for example, all the interviewees had mostly experienced equal treatment. Most of the women interviewed were hopeful for the future of female leadership and their own future career development.
The results indicate that the women in both industries have faced relatively similar challenges and attitudes. The women in the technology industry had experienced somewhat more difficulties fitting in, due to the highly male dominated industry. Women in both groups had experienced difficulties with being taken seriously and being accepted. Overall, most of the women had positive experiences, for example, all the interviewees had mostly experienced equal treatment. Most of the women interviewed were hopeful for the future of female leadership and their own future career development.