The Interrelationship between Societal and Organizational Factors and Women’s Career Progression in the Nigerian Banking Industry

This study examines the interrelationship between societal and organizational factors and women’s career progression in the Nigerian banking industry. The study adopted a qualitative research approach based on a narrative literature review and relied exclusively on secondary sources, including peer-reviewed journal articles, books, reports, conference papers and other credible scholarly materials. The literature was analyzed thematically and guided by Social Closure Theory. The findings indicate that societal factors such as cultural expectations, gender stereotypes, family responsibilities, religious beliefs and traditional gender roles are closely connected with organizational factors such as recruitment practices, promotion opportunities, mentoring, organizational culture and leadership. The study further found that societal expectations can enter the workplace through managerial attitudes and organizational practices, while organizational practices can either reinforce or reduce existing societal inequalities. Transparent recruitment and promotion systems, effective mentoring and supportive workplace policies can therefore improve women’s opportunities for career advancement. The study concludes that women’s career progression in the Nigerian banking industry is influenced not only by individual qualifications and performance but also by the interaction between societal and organizational structures. The study recommends greater attention to equitable organizational practices and supportive policies to create more opportunities for women to advance into senior management, executive and leadership positions.