DO PERSONAL ISSUES REPRESENT BARRIERS FOR WOMEN IN AND ASPIRING TO BE IN, HOTEL MANAGEMENT? ,

Abstract

This dissertation has set out to explore the extent to which personal issues can impede on a woman’s success within hotel management. The author achieved this aim through the interviewing of female hotel managers and female hospitality students and was able to compare these results in order to gauge the current attitudes and perceptions surrounding personal issues representing barriers. The author used White’s (2011) ‘Power Mechanism’s’ model as a conceptual framework in order to shape the study and tested the value of this model against the data collected from the interviews and focus group. The author was then able to develop a new model that was applicable to aspiring and current female hotel managers and represented the power filed surrounding the personal issues the research had identified. Within this dissertation, a critical literature review has been undertaken that justifies the study’s place amongst other academic research within its field. A detailed outline of the chosen research methods has also been included; as well as in-depth analysis and discussion of the results collected from the raw primary data. The main findings of this dissertation highlight that there are forces embedded within society that can act towards creating personal barriers that prevent women from pursuing their careers within hotel management. The extent to which these personal issues effect a woman’s success is dependent on the individual; however, the power field surrounding the personal issues is identified to be changing with the new generation of aspiring managers – with attitudes seemingly becoming more inclusive, and the women more empowered.