The narrative Study of women's developmental experiences at senior management posts in Tehran's higher education institutions

Abstract

Purpose: Today, women's participation in economic and business activities, along with the evolution of their employment, has created fundamental changes in their traditional role. The purpose of this research is to examine the women's semantic understanding of their developmental experiences at senior management positions in higher education institutions using a qualitative research methodology in narrative studies. For this purpose, an in-depth interview was used to access narratives. Methodolgoy: The research participants comprise 20 women in senior management posts in Tehran's higher education institutions who were selected through purposive sampling. The findings of the study, using the method of thematic analysis, have identified the factors that promote women's development in senior management positions in three themes: individual, organizational and socio cultural, and five themes of growth and training and family, personal characteristics, attitudes of employees and officials, community attitudes.Findings: The findings of the study, have identified the factors preventing women's development in senior management positions in three main themes of individual, organizational and cultural-social and seven themes of growth and training and education, family, personal characteristics, discrimination, attitudes of employees and officials, community attitudes, cultural stereotypes. Conclusion: Research shows that successful women leaders have unique a self-concept that allows them to overcome traditional gender boundaries.