Gender Discrimination and Unfair Treatment: Investigation of The Perceived Glass Ceiling and Women Reactions in The Workplace – Evidence from Indonesia

Women have rapidly increased their participation in the workforce recently. However, they remain underrepresented in upper-level management positions. Gender stereotypes hinder women’s career advancement, resulting in a glass ceiling – i.e., invisible barriers to their career development and achievement of leadership positions. This study analyzes the glass ceiling effect on organizational fairness and commitment, career prospects, and work engagement. A total of 201 working women in various government institutions in Indonesia completed an online questionnaire over a two-month study period. Data were analyzed using partial least squares. The results showed significant glass ceiling effects on organizational fairness and work-related attitudes toward career prospects, organizational commitment, and work engagement. When women perceive a glass ceiling in the workplace, they feel unfairly treated by the organization. Therefore, the perceived glass ceiling decreases women’s career prospects, organizational commitment, and work engagement. This study also found that organizational fairness mediates the glass ceiling effect on career prospects and organizational commitment.