| dc.description.abstract | Norway is often presented as one of the most gender equal countries in the world. Where equal opportunities and rights are fundamental elements. The following thesis aims to explore the experiences of women in leadership positions in Norway, specifically regarding gender issues and equality. With a goal to get a better understanding of the gender differences that still persist today. Using conflict theory and organisational culture, this thesis seeks to answer the research question: how does work-life balance affect the gender equality of female leaders in Norway? Considering work-life balance and organisational culture are tightly intertwined. What is organisational culture's role in promoting gender equality? In addition to: what role do social policies, such as parental leave and gender quotas, play in promoting gender equality?
Semi-structured interviews were utilised in the analysis of the findings. With women in leadership positions between 35-50 years old working in different sectors in Norway, the aim was to get valuable insight from the female managers' point of view.
The results suggest that organisational culture plays an important role in promoting gender equality, because factors such as working hours, working structures, underlying beliefs and values can both hinder or promote equality. To have a workplace culture that is supportive seems to be important in terms of providing equal opportunities for all. Other important aspects as expressed by the informants included flexible working hours, gender quotas and parental leave policies. Additionally, despite Norway being one of the most gender-equal countries, barriers such as gender norms and stereotypes still seem to persist today. | en_US |
