Investigating Supports and Barriers in Women’s Careers: A Review

The issue of women’s career progression has garnered growing academic attention. However, existing research remains fragmented and often constrained by regional perspectives. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of women’s career advancement by synthesizing existing literature and categorizing the barriers and support mechanisms influencing their professional growth. Employing a systematic literature review approach, sixty peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2014 and 2024 were analyzed. The findings indicate that societal norms, rigid organizational cultures, family obligations, and limited access to mentoring consistently hinder women’s career development across diverse cultural contexts. In contrast, organizational support, family encouragement, inclusive workplace policies, and individual self-efficacy serve as critical enablers of career advancement. The study concludes that gender-based discrimination and systemic barriers persist universally. However, opportunities for growth can be cultivated through strategic institutional support and empowerment initiatives. These insights contribute to the broader discourse on gender equity in the workplace and provide implications for policy development and organizational practice.