Exploring gender diversity in top level management teams with the hospitality industry

The Hospitality Management industry is one of the largest industries in the United States, employing nearly 10 percent of the country's entire population. Of those employees, 55.5 percent of them are female (Leisure and Hospitality, 2022). Despite having entered the 21st century, important differences still exist between the job conditions and outcomes of males and females. While the participation rate of females in the industry is higher than that of men, they still appear to work more hours and receive lower pay. In addition, men tend to hold higher positions involving more responsibility and complex tasks. Significant research has examined the financial implications related to gender in the workplace, however there is a limited body of knowledge concerning the determinants of experiences based on gender differences. In an effort to address this gap, this study investigates the determinants of employees' experiences within the United States hospitality management industry in relation to their gender as well as the presence of occupational segregation. Furthermore, this study discusses the implications of gender within the hospitality industry through a quantitative and qualitative approach. The findings of this study support the presence of vertical and horizontal occupational segregation within the industry and significant variations in experiences related to upward mobility and job opportunities between genders. Additionally, the qualitative portion of this study provides important concepts related to employees' conceptualization of gender in the workplace and theoretical explanations behind their ability to succeed in Top Management Teams (TMTs).

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Food and hospitality systems (MU)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Columbia

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Diederich, Mallory

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Alexander, Amanda C.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/91500

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/91500