Participação feminina em cargos de liderança: uma análise em uma organização pública

Abstract

From a theoretical and practical point of view, the topic of leadership is of utmost importance for public management. However, when approached in particular, female leadership in the public sector, a topic to be investigated in this article, requires a more precise analysis. After all, it is necessary to advance in the understanding of issues such as gender inequality at the top of the pyramid of public organizations and the institutional barriers and challenges that are present in the journey of exercising women's leadership. To this end, the following methodological procedures were used: a qualitative and exploratory approach, based on bibliographic, documentary and empirical research. For the second part of the study, interviews were conducted based on a script of semi-structured questions with four women who work in leadership positions at the Water and Sewage Company of Paraíba (CAGEPA). In this way, it was possible to glimpse the perception of the interviews regarding the studied topic. The results indicated that leadership is a highly complex and relevant topic, and when cut to the public sector scenario and to female leadership, the topic becomes even more prominent. Since the beginning of time, women have faced a range of challenges, prejudices and stereotypes, and when this issue is brought to leadership, it becomes an even bigger issue. Therefore, it is crucial to observe the implications of female leadership in the public sector and that measures are taken to achieve gender equality in organizations and allow more women to reach the top of the hierarchy.