Exploring male attitudes toward women's participation in executive leadership in the South African logistics industry

Abstract

Despite increasing discourse on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), women remain significantly underrepresented in the South African logistics sector. Anchored in Social Role Theory, this qualitative study explores male executives’ attitudes toward women’s executive leadership participation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 20 senior professionals, complemented by document analysis. The findings reveal that entrenched masculine norms and unconscious biases function as mechanisms of informal exclusion. Specifically, male executives frequently utilise meritocratic narratives to mask bias, while organisational culture and work-family assumptions act as gatekeeping mechanisms that frame women as less suitable for senior roles. Consequently, informal exclusion persists despite formal policy frameworks. By extending Social Role Theory into the Global South, this study demonstrates how attitudes function as structural barriers. The research provides policymakers and executives with evidence-based insights to align leadership development with South Africa’s transformation agenda.