RESUMO

Staines, Tavris and Jayaratne (1974) first introduced the Queen Bee Phenomenon (QBP). The term has been extensively employed to explain specific behaviors driven by organizational inequalities where women engaged in leadership positions actively restrain the opportunities of upper mobility for junior women. While the literature constantly addresses the causes and behaviors of this phenomenon, the current scholarship still lacks an integrated view of the QBP literature and a concise integrative framework that explores its triggers and consequences to advance research and provide evidence-based results to guide policy and managerial decisions. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to identify, analyze and synthesize the literature on the QBP. We conducted a systematic literature review engaging bibliometrics and content analysis. Our results highlight the current state of the art of the QBP literature and introduce a new integrative framework that shows the interplay between the triggers, traits and consequences of the QBP. We contribute to the field by integrating previous research in the field into a framework that synthesizes and connects the scattered literature. Our results are helpful for designing new organizational policies that reduce the impacts of the QBP in the workplace. The research agenda propose avenues for advancing our understanding of the phenomenon.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The barriers that hinder the rise of women to high leadership positions are commonly discussed with the help of metaphors that draw attention to gender inequalities. Thus, this article aims to summarize, integrate and discuss the available international literature on metaphors that illustrate barriers to the rise of women to leadership positions. Bibliometric analysis of articles found at Scopus database, on Glass Ceiling, Sticky Floor, Glass Cliff and Queen Bee Phenomenon was carried out between 1988 and 2018. The sample of 745papers is distributed through 439 journals. Brazilian production is quite low, especially when compared to production in the United States and the United Kingdom. We conclude that gender inequalities do not end when women break Glass Ceiling. The systematization of knowledge about different metaphors helps in the formulation of more assertive public policies and in the direction of future research.

As barreiras que dificultam a ascensão de mulheres a altos cargos de liderança são comumente discutidas com o auxílio de metáforas que chamam a atenção para desigualdades de gênero. De modo que esse artigo possui como objetivo sumarizar, integrar e discutir a literatura internacional disponível sobre metáforas que ilustram barreiras para ascensão de mulheres a postos de liderança. Foi realizada análise bibliométrica de artigos encontrados na Scopus, sobre Glass ceiling, Sticky floor, Glass Cliff e Queen Bee Phenomenon, entre os anos de 1988 e 2018. Obteve-se amostra de 745 documentos distribuídos em 439 periódicos. A produção brasileira é reduzida, principalmente se comparada a dos Estados Unidos e Reino Unido. Conclui-se que as desigualdades de gênero não acabam quando a mulher quebra o Glass Ceiling. A sistematização do conhecimento sobre diferentes metáforas auxilia na formulação de políticas públicas mais assertivas e no direcionamento de pesquisas futuras.

Las barreras que dificultan el ascenso de las mujeres a altos cargos de liderazgo se discuten con la ayuda de metáforas que llaman la atención sobre las desigualdades de género. Por lo tanto, este artículo tiene como objetivo resumir, integrar y discutir la literatura internacional disponible sobre metáforas que ilustran las barreras al ascenso de las mujeres a puestos de liderazgo. El análisis bibliométrico de los artículos encontrados en Scopus, sobre Glass Ceiling, Sticky Floor, Glass Cliff y Queen Bee Phenomenon se llevó a cabo entre 1988 y 2018. Se obtuvo una muestra de 745 documentos distribuidos en 439 revistas. La producción brasileña es bastante baja, especialmente en comparación con la producción en los Estados Unidos y el Reino Unido. Concluimos que las desigualdades de género no terminan cuando las mujeres rompen el Glass Ceiling. La sistematización del conocimiento sobre diferentes metáforas ayuda en la formulación de políticas públicas más asertivas y en la dirección de futuras investigaciones.