Date

12-19-2024

Department

School of Education

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)

Chair

Laura J. Mansfield

Keywords

career, barriers, transportation, women, race, leadership development

Disciplines

Leadership Studies

Abstract

This quantitative, causal-comparative study investigated differences in perceived career barriers among women engaged in leadership development training programs and those who were not, with a specific focus on their racial backgrounds. The research targets women within the public transportation workforce, utilizing a convenience sample comprising individuals willing and able to provide insights into the issue of perceived career barriers among women in this sector. Purposive inclusion criteria encompass self-identifying as a woman, reporting ages between 25 and 65, and current employment in the public transportation sector. The Perception of Barriers Scale assessed career- and education-related barriers. The data collection procedure for this study predominantly involved survey research, wherein participants were asked to respond to a structured set of questions designed to gather relevant information on the variables under investigation. Employing a two-way analysis of variance, the research revealed that there was not a significant interaction between participation in leadership development training programs and race on women’s perceived career barriers scores, as measured by the Perception of Barriers Scale. The researcher suggests future research on women’s perceived career barriers, such as controlling for other variables, implementing longitudinal research, and evaluating the effectiveness of customized leadership programs. This study provides important revelations that can empower women of color to overcome their perceived career barriers, yielding greater diversity in organizational leadership.

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