The traditional profile of the successful senior manger has been of the authoritative, dynamic, aggressive individual. This stereotype does not fit traditional perceptions of women's skills. Research demonstrates that women favour these kind of management styles. Dr Catherine Cassell, Senior Lecturer in Organisation Behaviour at the Sheffield Business School of Sheffield Hallam University, and Dr Susan Walsh, Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Sheffield and Principal Clinical Psychologist in the NHS, carried our this qualitative study, which was based on in-depth interviews with sixty men and women across four large companies. Dr Walsh and Dr Cassell have undertaken several joint research projects on the interaction of company culture and the psychology of the individual.
Women have the same aspirations to the top jobs as their male colleagues.
Hidden barriers to career progression effectively form a glass ceiling, preventing women from achieving those jobs. The culture here is very male. Overtly there are no barriers, but there's a subtle sidelining of women. There's a subtle undermining of women by the male mafia which is difficult to penetrate, they always close ranks. The 'Old Boys' Network still operates, and exemplifies the exclusionary culture of the publishing industry.