Problems and differences with gender in business accounting - Research Paper Example

The glass ceiling barriers are evident even among students who exhibit the interest of pursuing a career in accounting. This paper will discuss gender differences and problems in the accounting field. Business accounting is a field that was saturated by men initially, with few women taking up the career. Many people considered it a career designated for men because it is highly demanding, and patriarchal attitudes dictated that only men had the resilience to hold such pressure. Although women have ventured into this career in the recent past, research reveals that gender differences still exist in this career (Shalhoub 1).

Although women have proven their resilience and breaking the first layer of the glass ceiling barriers placed before them in this career, it is evident that they have multiple barriers resulting from the remaining composite glass ceiling. Although women have gained entry into this career, and have excelled in different certifications of accounting, gender issues still pose a barrier. Evidently, the competition in the business world has served to raise the bar for many people who intend to adopt a career progression in accounting (Tsamenyi and Uddin 123).

Many women have advanced education in this accounting exhibiting the potential of competing with men in academic qualifications. However, despite having the academic qualifications and making efforts to advance their education after gaining entry into the career, it proves difficult for women to receive promotions. Evidently, many senior accountants are men, with organizations preferring to reserve that post for males. Although they have the relevant qualifications, gender stereotypes prevent women from progressing faster in their career.

Such stereotypes motivate male employers to hire make accountants, and if women are hired, they are placed in the lower ranks in the accounting department (Riahi-Belkaoui 87). This has made it difficult for women to break the glass ceiling barriers completely. In comparison to male accountants, women are likely to register longer time before they receive a promotion. In other cases, women with similar academic backgrounds to men may be placed at a lower rank than the men. Men exhibit negative attitudes that serve to limit women because of the technicality of the accounting job.

This presents a problem when women receive promotions because the men may work towards proving that women lack the required competence for the job. Instead of offering the right kind of support, men may serve to make the responsibilities of the women tougher. In reaction to the negative attitudes, some women often embark on proving that they have fit for the job instead of promoting organizational financial goals. The accounting department often works closely with other departments, and may face the compulsion to make critical decisions that can pose serious consequences for the organization.

This is one of the aspects that has contributed to the development of stereotypes that prevent female accountants from being considered for promotions. Many men believe that women lack the capacity to make such critical decisions (Kuersten 67). In cases where women hold the office of senior accounting, and exhibit the competence of making such decisions, men are likely to feel inferior. Such factors often trigger problems