Gender differences in career aspirations and perceived obstacles among students in India and Sweden

Abstract

The study examines gender differences in career aspirations and perceived obstacles amongst well educated students in India (at Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, IIMB) and Sweden (at Stockholm School of Economics, SSE). Data was collected based on a questionnaire distributed to students at both school and the results were discussed in a group discussion with Indian students. The hypothesis that women at IIMB face greater obstacles than their counterparts at SSE is true, but cannot help explain differences in the distribution of females and males in leading positions.