Over the past three decades, male and female work roles have been rapidly changing. This study explored the varying experiences of men and women who received MBAs and started their careers in the fifties, sixties, and seventies. Qualitative analysis of intensive interview data was the method used. The findings were that women rarely held positions in business firms, choosing instead independent work or alternative settings such as universities. Women's salaries and authority lagged behind those of men, and they more often felt blocked from further advancement. Several propositions are advanced to explain the reluctance of women to enter or remain in business management.
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