(Glass Ceiling Syndrome Perceptions of Travel Agency Employees: An Application in the Aegean Region Travel Agencies)

Abstract

Purpose – While the rate of women working in the tourism industry is increasing rapidly all over the world, in the industry, where women operate quite intensely, very few of the women employees can take place in senior management and positions of strategic importance. It is called glass ceiling syndrome to ignore the talents and achievements of women from senior management levels and create invisible and unbreakable barriers for women. The purpose of this study; The aim of this study is to examine the demographic characteristics of women working at different levels in the travel agencies operating in the Aegean Region and to determine individuals' perception of glass ceiling syndrome based on these demographic features. Design/methodology/approach – Target population of the study consists of the manager, vice- manager, chef and women in lower positions who work in travel agencies operating in the Aegean Region. Within the scope of the study, the information about the number of personnel employed, the number of female personnel and the positions of the working women in the agency was obtained after an in-depth screening. Data from female employees who voluntarily participated in the study were collected mainly through face-to-face survey. Statistical analyzes were carried out using the 292 questionnaires collected and SPSS package program. Findings – As a result of the findings obtained as a result of the study; In the perception of glass ceiling syndrome of female employees working in travel agencies operating in the Aegean Region; It has been concluded that there are statistically significant differences in terms of age, position in business, education of individuals, and the year of work of women in the company. Discussion – Glass ceiling syndrome supports previous studies in the literature on career barriers and professional problems women face in the tourism industry. The findings obtained suggest that, especially when analyzed with sub-dimensions, the perceptions of women with glass ceiling syndrome are quite high and that detailing these differences in terms of demographic features will be helpful in detecting and solving problems.