The effect of internal and external barriers on career advancement among women and the role of self-esteem as a moderator

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to identify the effect of self-esteem in moderating the relationship between the internal and external barriers and career advancement among women. In this quantitative study, a set of questionnaire focusing on the barriers, career advancement and self-esteem was used for data collection. A total number of 263 women employees among the women executives at OCBC Bank (M) Sdn Bhd was selected to participate in the study. Inferential statistics (multiple regression and hierarchical regression) were used to analyse the data. The findings showed that the overall level of internal and external barriers in career advancement among women executives was at a high level and career advancement among women was at moderate level. Besides that, the research findings shown that there was a significant effect of the barriers (except for role conflict and discriminatory attitudes and sex-role stereotypes) on career advancement among women. The findings also shown that self-esteem moderated the relationship between the internal and external barriers and career advancement. It is recommended employer should provide training that can improve women executives’ self-esteem.