Exploring Glass Cliff Behaviors Among Gen Z: A Faculty-Based Analysis
Öz
Aim: This study investigates the prevalence of "glass cliff" attitudes among Generation Z, a phenomenon where women are more likely to be appointed to leadership roles during periods of organizational crisis or decline. Specifically, the research aims to determine whether professional disciplines and academic socialization within the context of Turkish higher education influence the likelihood of Generation Z exhibiting these behaviors. Method: The study was conducted using a scenario-based approach with a sample of 60 Generation Z students. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive analysis methods. Participants were selected from five different academic faculties: Administrative Sciences, Education, Engineering, Law, and Tourism. This interdisciplinary approach allowed for a comparative analysis of how different educational backgrounds shaped perceptions of leadership and risk. Results: While there's no universal "glass cliff" pattern across Gen Z, significant differences emerged depending on faculty affiliation. Engineering students showed the most gender-neutral, performance-based preferences. In contrast, Education students were most likely to exhibit "glass cliff" behavior. Law and Administrative Sciences students showed a dual tendency toward both gender discrimination and "glass cliff" preferences, while Tourism students' responses remained inconsistent. Notably, the fact that 59% of those who chose female candidates for high-risk scenarios were women suggests an intra-gender dynamic consistent with the "Queen Bee" syndrome. Conclusion: The findings indicate that Generation Z's attitudes toward the glass divide are not uniform but are significantly influenced by their educational backgrounds. Educational background functions as a precursor to organizational bias, with some disciplines reinforcing traditional gender-risk relationships more than others. This suggests that gender-based organizational bias is a complex internalization of existing hierarchies and can even be reinforced by those within marginalized groups. Originality: This research offers a pioneering perspective on the glass cliff theory within the context of Generation Z and Turkish higher education. It expands the scope of the glass cliff theory by identifying academic socialization as a critical factor in the development of organizational bias, even before individuals enter the professional workforce.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Proje Numarası
Kaynakça
- Ashby, J.S., Ryan, M.K. & Haslam, S.A. (2007). Legal work and the glass cliff: Evidence that women are preferentially selected to lead problematic cases. William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice, 13(3), 775-793. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl/vol13/iss3/3/
- Bornat, M., (2018). Women to the rescue: Is there a glass cliff in politics? Master Thesis. Central European University Department of Political Science, Budapest, Hungary. Link: https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2018/bornat_marta.pdf
- Brucmüller, S. & Branscombe, N. (2010). The glass cliff: When and why women are selected as leaders in crisis context. British Journal of Social Psychology, 49(Pt 3), 433-451. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466609X466594
- Chen, L. (2018). “Impact of Gender Discrimination on Work-Place Gender Inequalities in China in The Last Decade.” Peace and Development Work Master Thesis, 1-57. Link: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-75841
- Colovic, G. (2015). Scenario method for defining the strategy in the garment industry. Journal of Textile Science & Engineering, 5(4), 205. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2165-8064.1000205
- Cook, A. & Glass, C.M. (2013). Above the glass ceiling: when are women and racial/ethnic minorities promoted to ceo? Strategic Management Journal, 35(7), 1080-1089. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2161
- Csobanka, Z.E. (2016). The Z Generation. Acta Technologica Dubnicae, 6(2), 63-76. https://doi.org/10.1515/atd-2016-0012
- De Boer, H.F. & Westerheijden, D. (2005). Scenarios as a method. J. Enders, J. File, J. Huisman ve D. Westerheijden (Eds.), The European higher education and research landscape 2020: Scenarios and strategic debates (s.13-24). Link: https://research.utwente.nl/en/publications/scenarios-as-a-method
Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
İnsan Kaynakları Yönetimi
Bölüm
Araştırma Makalesi
Yazarlar
Bahar Suvacı
*
0000-0002-1082-0497
Türkiye
Yayımlanma Tarihi
29 Nisan 2026
Gönderilme Tarihi
10 Şubat 2026
Kabul Tarihi
24 Mart 2026
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2026 Cilt: 17 Sayı: 1