The Challenges Associated with Women Career Development at the State Universities in Saudi Arabia: A Ground Theory Approach

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the challenges affecting women career development at the state universities in Saudi Arabia. Primary data was collected through interviews that were conducted with forty participants at the state universities in Saudi Arabia. As the data were analyzed using the constructivist grounded theory approach. The results showed there were seven factors affecting women’s career development that are cultural, family, individual, organizational, geographical, economic, legal and constitutional. This paper recommends that the need to support women's access to leadership positions through the political decision, and gradually raising the share of women in leadership positions to benefit from women's competencies in enhancing the development of movement in KSA in all fields. It is also recommended that a time frame should be put in place to strengthen the representation of women in leadership positions, so universities should recognize the contribution and the important role of women.