Helping Women Work: An Analysis of the Female Leadership Gap in Utah's Financial Industry

We are at a crucial time in our nation's history. While women comprise half of the population, the glass ceiling, persistent wage gaps, and lack of female representation at senior levels in many industries raise questions as to the status of gender equality and professional opportunities for women in corporate America. Comparing Utah's labor force, the primary focus of this study, to industry standards nationwide, it is clear that Utah is trailing behind in gender equality in higher paying fields. Helping Women Work engages qualitative research from eight female focus group participants and secondary source research to explore the obstacles women face in the modern workforce that contribute to the female leadership gap in Utah's financial sector. Findings from this research show that the inequities women face in today's professional workforce are resulting from the interconnectedness of patriarchy and capitalism that create a power structure perpetuated by both men and women. This power structure is to blame for the many issues that slow women's progression in the professional workforce, including a deeply entrenched culture of overwork in corporate America, race, class, and intersectionality, as well as inadequate support structures inside and outside of work