Understanding Supports and Barriers in Women’s Careers: A Literature Review

Luana de Souza Barros; Deniel Gomes Frutuoso; Victor Gabriel dos Santos Tomaz; Sônia Maria Guedes Gondim; Ligia Carolina Oliveira-Silva

doi:10.24265/liberabit.2024.v30n2.886

Authors

Luana de Souza Barros Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6376-4655
Deniel Gomes Frutuoso Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7776-8024
Victor Gabriel dos Santos Tomaz Ribeirão Preto School of Philosophy, Science and Literature, University of São Paulo, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8359-8500
Sônia Maria Guedes Gondim Postgraduate Program in Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3482-166X
Ligia Carolina Oliveira-Silva Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7487-9420

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24265/liberabit.2024.v30n2.886

Keywords:

women, career, supports, barriers

Abstract

Background: The persistent issue of gender discrimination in the workplace is a significant concern. Women continue to face many barriers and support systems are crucial for women’s professional development. Therefore, knowing about supports and barreiras more broadly can positively impact women. Objective: The objective of this article was to identify the barriers and supports that impact the professional development of women. Method: An integrative review of the literature was used with searches in two databases, Web of Science and Scopus, considering the period from 2013 to 2022 and selected 34 studies. Results: The results indicate that the studies address more barriers than supports. Barriers are most associated with gender discrimination, work-family conflict, distorted self-perceptions, lack of organizational support, negative professional experience, and social and cultural norms. Supports relate to the help of significant others, organizational support strategies, professional experience and skills, and individual strategies. Conclusion: The review provides contributions to support effective interventions and public policies that support gender equality, as well as helping organizations review human resources practices to better support women’s careers.

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Author Biographies

Luana de Souza Barros, Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil.

Graduated in Psychology from the Universidade Federal Fluminense and master’s student in the Postgraduate Psychology Program at the Federal University of Uberlândia. She is interested in gender, career, and organizational behavior.
Deniel Gomes Frutuoso, Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil.

Master’s student in Organizational and Work Psychology at the Federal University of Uberlândia and Psychologist graduated from the same institution. Areas of interest involve social psychology, psychological assessment, personality, adaptation of psychometric instruments, career and gender in the workplace, and barriers and support in career development.
Victor Gabriel dos Santos Tomaz, Ribeirão Preto School of Philosophy, Science and Literature, University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Psychologist graduated from the Federal University of Uberlândia. He is currently a master’s student in the postgraduate program at the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at the University of São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto-SP. His research focus is on the themes of employability, self-efficacy, and career. He is also interested in areas such as Implicit Attitudes and Social-Cognitive Psychology and gender issues.
Sônia Maria Guedes Gondim, Postgraduate Program in Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil.

Visiting professor at the Federal University of Uberlândia (2022-2024). Retired professor at the Institute of Psychology at the Federal University of Bahia. Psychologist and master in Social Psychology from Gama Filho University (R.J.). PhD in Psychology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. She undertook postdoctoral studies at the Complutense University of Madrid and Magdalene College of the University of Cambridge. Coordinator of the CNPq Advisory Subcommittee (2023-2024). Works in the Postgraduate Program at the UFBA Psychology Institute. Main research interests are emotions and work, emotional regulation, emotional work, socio-emotional skills, professional skills, professional identity, qualitative methods, especially focus groups.
Ligia Carolina Oliveira-Silva, Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil.

Professor at the Instituto de Psicologia and Graduate Program in Psychology at the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia-MG, Brazil, and a Research Fellow at the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at the Australian National University, Canberra-ACT, Australia.

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