The impact of cultural and organizational factors on gender diversity in leadership: A governance perspective in Saudi public organizations

Download This Article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Gender diversity in leadership is a crucial worldwide problem, especially inside Saudi public institutions, where cultural and organizational variables profoundly influence women’s leadership prospects. This research analyzes the impact of cultural norms, leadership styles, and governance frameworks on gender diversity in leadership positions. Data were gathered from 138 participants in Saudi public organizations using a standardized survey. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression models were used to evaluate the link among cultural views, leadership practices, and gender discrepancies. Research demonstrates that cultural attitudes and leadership styles significantly affect gender representation in leadership, with conventional male-dominated frameworks obstructing women’s professional advancement. The findings underscore a significant association between gender diversity and leadership efficacy, highlighting the need for inclusive governance measures. This research advances the discourse on gender equality in leadership and offers ideas for promoting gender-inclusive leadership in Saudi public institutions. The subsequent study needs to investigate gender-specific difficulties within various sectors and assess the enduring effects of policy improvements.

Keywords: Gender Diversity, Leadership Styles, Cultural Norms, Organizational Barriers, Saudi Public Organizations

Authors’ individual contributions: Conceptualization — V.V.M. and J.J.S.; Methodology — J.J.S.; Formal Analysis — J.J.S.; Investigation — V.V.M.; Resources — J.J.S.; Writing — V.V.M. and J.J.S.; Supervision — V.V.M.; Project Administration — V.V.M.; Funding Acquisition — V.V.M.

Declaration of conflicting interests: The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

JEL Classification: G31, G34

Received: 10.09.2024
Revised: 18.12.2024; 19.03.2025; 02.05.2025
Accepted: 26.05.2025
Published online: 29.05.2025

How to cite this paper: Muthuswamy, V. V., & Savithri, J. J. (2025). The impact of cultural and organizational factors on gender diversity in leadership: A governance perspective in Saudi public organizations. Corporate Board: Role, Duties and Composition, 21(2), 45–57. https://doi.org/10.22495/cbv21i2art4