Date
8-2021
Department
Graduate School of Business
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Chair
Ryan Ladner
Keywords
glass ceiling, underrepresentation of minority women, federal government, diversity, inclusion, equity
Disciplines
Human Resources Management
Recommended Citation
Freeman, Amy M., "The Underrepresentation of Minority Women in Senior-Level Positions Employed by the Federal Government" (2021). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 3139.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/3139
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand the underrepresentation of minority women in senior-level positions employed by the federal government. The study generated from the glass ceiling theory that has been previously studied and explored through different aspects related to barriers associated with discriminatory acts aimed at minorities and women. A thematic approach was utilized to display the data obtained from the participants, illustrating insufficient progress being made over the course of 40-plus years with regards to the advancement of minority women obtaining a senior-level role within the federal government. Participants defined their understanding of the glass ceiling and described how the glass ceiling related to their lived experiences working for the federal government. Although each participant’s experience was not exactly the same, the experiences correlated into similar categories. This research could be utilized to develop diversity and inclusion programs for the federal government and ensure equity is imposed at all levels of the workforce, to include senior-level positions. Overall, the study provides an understanding of the underrepresentation of minority women in senior-level positions employed by the federal government.
