Mulheres em cargos de gestão em cooperativas agroindustriais: uma abordagem comportamental

Abstract

The insertion of women in the corporate world and their representation in management positions, particularly in cooperatives, was the topic of the proposed study. The study aimed to identify the profile of women holding management positions in an agro-industrial cooperative in Santa Catarina. In addition to identifying the obstacles that arise throughout these professionals' careers and understanding how they see themselves as leaders, their main challenges, and how they balance their professional and personal lives. Seven women participated in the research, selected as managers in their respective fields within the organization, between May and August 2023. Data collection was done through semi-structured questionnaires, answered in writing and privately by each manager. As for the respondents' profile, their ages ranged from 37 to 42 years old, most of them married with one or two children. To preserve their identity, names were replaced with numbers. This is a qualitative descriptive study, and content analysis was used for data analysis. The analysis of the managers' statements demonstrates the presence of characteristics such as analytical, emotional, balanced, and multifunctional as behavioral traits. However, it is also observed that despite being aware of their leadership abilities and having the technical qualifications for the position, they claim to have faced greater difficulties than male colleagues in advancing to these positions, as well as the need for greater proof of their psychological and technical capabilities to be in charge. This study achieved its proposed objectives, but the topic is broad and can generate future discussions.