Overcoming the Glass Ceiling Syndrome through Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in OECD Countries

Intelligence in OECD Countries ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of digitalization and artificial intelligence technologies on the invisible barriers affecting women's access to senior management positions within the framework of the glass ceiling syndrome in OECD countries. Sweden, Germany, South Korea, Canada, and Turkey were selected as case studies, each evaluated through in-depth analysis of the public sector, private sector, and the activity reports of relevant institutions. The study applies a comparative assessment based on gender equality indices, digitalization strategies, and artificial intelligence applications, focusing on the relationship between women’s representation in digital leadership and the perception of the glass ceiling. The findings reveal that digitalization alone does not ensure gender equality; on the contrary, in countries where artificial intelligence technologies lack gender sensitivity, existing inequalities are likely to persist or deepen. While Sweden and Canada appear to have largely overcome the glass ceiling syndrome, the examples from South Korea and Turkey suggest that cultural and structural barriers continue to reinforce it. Ultimately, this study underscores the necessity of integrating gender-sensitive artificial intelligence technologies into institutional transformation efforts to overcome the glass ceiling in the digital age. Keywords: Digitalization, Artificial Intelligence, Glass Ceiling Syndrome, Gender Equality, OECD Countries Jel Code: J16, O33, M14 Referencing Style: APA 7