Contemporary Dialogue

The glass ceiling effect remains a significant barrier to higher education for women globally, with unique challenges featured in specific regions of India. This study investigates the glass ceiling effect on higher education of graduating girls in Odisha, a major State in eastern India. The study aims to understand the glass ceiling in terms of resource distribution and participation, addressing how cultural, family, individual, and socio-economic barriers impact girls' pursuit of higher education. This study was conducted following phenomenological research design amongst the graduating girls across the State of Odisha, where data was collected through interviews and focus group discussions with 30 postgraduate female students of Ravenshaw University, Cuttack and Rama Devi Women’s University, Bhubaneswar. The findings of this study reveal that the major factors affecting girls’ education adversely in coastal Odisha are transportation issues, cultural norms, challenges in coeducational settings, gender discrimination, parental attitudes, inadequate infrastructure, lack of security, superstitions, socio-economic conditions, and violence against women. The study emphasizes the need for policy interventions to create a more equitable educational environment for women in Odisha in particular and in India in general.