International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences April 2015, Vol. 5, No. 4 ISSN: 2222-6990 99 www.hrmars.com Challenges of Women for Entering in to Old Boys' Network Case Study: Iran Universities Somayeh labafi PhD. Student of Media management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Email: s_labafi@ut.ac.ir Mahdieh Jalalpoor (Corresponding author) Master Graduate of EMBA, Department of Management, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Email: mjalalpoor@gmail.com DOI: 10.6007/IJARBSS/v5-i4/1544 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v5-i4/1544 Abstract Today networks and entering in to the networks are the main ways that people can promote their position in the organizations through them. Likewise, entering to the networks (formal and informal) is a major concern for newcomers who want to promote their scientific position. Researchers show that despite the dramatic increase in the number of women at universities in Iran, they have problem of entering in to the scientific networks. This study attempts to identify and explain the women challenges for entering in to the male academic networks (old boys' networks) of Iran universities. In this article grounded theory approach as a qualitative research method is applied. We selected 18 faculty members through snowball sampling. Research data were collected using semi-structured interviews and through Strauss and Corbin comparison method. Researches findings suggest that legal, cultural and family barriers are the main barriers of entering women in to the old boys' networks in universities. Finally we explain strategies adopted from experts' comments to deal with these barriers. KEY WORDS: Old Boy Networks, University, Women, Grounded Theory Introduction During the past decade, the number of women in universities has been equaled or exceeded the number of men in many countries (Van den Brink, 2011). This shows potential of administrating top management positions by women. (Acker, 1992b; Tharenou, 1999 ). Women now represent half of the potential pool from which universities can draw its future leaders. But despite this growth, women have not progressed to reach senior academic ranks or positions of leadership at the expected rate (Van den Brink, 2011). Although there is no doubt that women have been successful in the workplaces, few of them have reached in to the senior levels of management. According to a recent report from the