The Silver Ceiling and Beyond

Despite growing attention to workforce ageing and gender equality, women aged 50 and above remain under-examined in human resource management research. This chapter explores how organisational structures and HR practices shape the work experiences of women aged 50+, drawing on qualitative data analysed with MAXQDA. Using Gender Structure Theory and Intersectionality Theory, it demonstrates that inequalities in pay, training, promotion, health, and future security are structurally produced through intersecting gendered and age-based assumptions. By linking the findings to SDGs 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, and 16, the chapter offers policy-oriented recommendations for inclusive and sustainable HR practices.