With 29% of senior management roles being held by women, the highest number ever on record being recorded in 2019. Is this an issue of women being undermined, men not trusting women to produce results like they do or even more, women lacking confidence or is it mere coincidence?

In the companies I have worked in, top management has been male dominated and this does raise questions on whether this is actually a coincidence or there is a stereotype on women holding high positions in business. Some of these issues are extreme in some countries and cultures compared to others. As a result of women feeling unequal, some women have started different movements, communities, clubs, societies, etc. as a way to encourage and build each other.

Even with a higher educational level or experience or both, women still earn, on average, less than men do. Although the difference between men's and women's earnings has declined in recent years, its 2020, and a majority of women still earn less than men. A study done in 2019 showed that women earn just 79 cents for every dollar men make for a similar role.

I have noticed a lot of factors have an effect not only on the kind of position a woman holds in an entity, but also at entry level.

In my opinion the following factors act as barriers to women’s career development:

• Paternalism
• Women failing to support each other
• Recruitment and hiring practices that create entry barriers for women.
• Some aspects of a male-oriented corporate culture that is hostile to women.
• Sexual harassment.
• Different standards for women and men.
• Disparities in the distribution of high-quality job assignments.
• Difficulty for women to advance into management.
• Failure of corporations to accommodate work-family issues.
• Salary discrepancies based on one's gender.

COVID-19 considerations:The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 has forced a large portion of the population to work remotely, with layoffs for some occupations and industries. Women have a higher risk of suffering greater penalties in terms of earnings as a result.Women make up a significant proportion of occupations in Community & Social Services, Hair & Beauty services, Education, Library & Training, Office & Administrative Support, etc, which are more likely to be suspended, laid off, or forced to work reduced hours because they are non-essential roles. Working from home is mainly to the disadvantage of the woman in the case where a couple has small children that require attention. Schools are closed and generally the mother is expected to give more attention to the child, which affects her productivity during the lockdown and possibly failing to meet her KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) thereof.

The next article will look at what women can do to overcome some of these corporate challenges. What are your thoughts? Is this something you can relate to and what you think women can do to show their worth and grab opportunities?