Abstract

This research aimed to explore the experiences of two groups of female leaders from the former Soviet Union, one group who now live and build their careers in the UK, and the other in Russia, thus representing two different national contexts.
Phenomenological and feminist perspectives influenced this empirical investigation. Female leaders’ career paths were studied by means of cross-national comparative research using a qualitative approach. This methodology enabled understanding of the differences and similarities in female leaders’ career paths in the UK and Russia. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted in person and on-line with selected female leaders, working in private sector organisations in the UK and in Russia. The research revealed that a multitude of personal and structural factors influenced female leaders’ career paths in both countries, creating barriers to their career development. The attitude of female leaders towards these obstacles uncovered the complexity of interrelated indicators in Russia and the UK. Three key findings emerged from the research. First, despite experiencing persistent gender stereotypes in both the UK and Russia, the essentialist gender equality position prevailed in the participants’ views. While gender stereotypes in the UK were perceived as gradually weakening, they still appear stronger compared to the former Soviet Union before and soon after perestroika. There were indications however that
gender stereotypes in Russia might be strengthening. Second, the participants’ experiences indicated that glass ceiling barriers to female leaders’ career progression persevere in contemporary organisations in both countries. An additional
layer of obstacles to career growth was discovered at the intersection of culture and gender in the UK. Third, the participants in both countries supported liberal gender
equality policies. There appeared to be no interest in radical gender equality measures in Russia and these were largely unpopular in the UK among the female leaders. This thesis argues that the interrelated influence of a liberal gender equality perspective and essentialist gender equality beliefs maintains the existing status quo, in effect slowing down gender equality in both, the UK and Russia.