Women in Healthcare: Barriers and Enablers from a Developing Country Perspective

• DOI: 10.15171/ijhpm.2013.05
• Publication Date: 2014-02-27T12:15:29Z
• Authors: Hayfaa A. Tlaiss
• Keywords: Thematic Analysis; Salience (neuroscience); Reflexivity

Background As the under-representation of women in management positions continues to persist globally, little is known about experiences healthcare sector context developing Middle Eastern nations. In an attempt address this knowledge gap, current study explores some barriers that hinder and enablers foster women's career advancement sector. To meet its objectives, uses a relational approach integrates macro socio-cultural, meso-organisational, micro-individual levels analysis. Methods Guided by institutional theory as theoretical framework social constructionism philosophical stance, adopts qualitative research methodology. It capitalizes on in-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with managers different occupational fields, across managerial hierarchy Lebanon. Snowballing purposeful sampling procedures were used, analysed using thematic analysis, focusing identifying new, emerging themes. Results The results confirm salience discriminatory cultural values, gendered roles expectations societies, illustrate their role hindering advancement. also portray spillover effect societal gender stereotypes into organisational realm, resulting widely experienced attitudinal structural barriers. This illustrates how facilitate promote progression unfold amidst interplay between meso factors, lending credence agency at individual micro level. Amongst toll barriers, navigate patriarchy cultures discrimination inherent organisations persistence they construct negotiate careers management. Conclusion provides new status sector, sub-category female employees date, under-researched. primarily highlights building careers. stresses notion complexity can be best understood intersectionality gender, agency, socio-cultural realities boundaries.