Introduction: Historically, women's primary focus was on domestic tasks, but the industrial revolution prompted a reevaluation of their roles in society. In contemporary times, women have widely entered various areas of society. However, evidence shows that there are widespread inequalities in the fields of education, health, economics, and politics between women and men. These inequalities are especially pronounced in the economic sector. In spite of the growth of positive attitudes towards women's management and favorable global conditions for assigning managerial positions to women, they continue to face numerous obstacles. This phenomenon is also evident in Iran, where their share in managerial positions, particularly in the industrial sector, is very small. Since there has been  limited research on the challenges faced by female managers in the industrial sector, this study aims to explore the obstacles encountered by this demographic by focusing on women in management roles within the industry.
Method: This research was carried out within a qualitative framework employing thematic analysis. The research field was the industrial organizations in Mashhad city. The participants consisted of 12 women managers from the industrial sector who were selected  by means of purposive sampling method gradually during the data collection and analysis process. The data collection tool was a semi-structured in-depth interview. Each interview lasted between 75 and 120 minutes. All interviews took place at the factory site and with prior appointments and necessary coordination with the participants. The interviews were concluded upon reaching data saturation. Finally, the credibility of the data was established through evaluation technique by the participants.
Findings: On the whole, six key themes emerged from the data analysis. These themes are as follows: 1) the challenge of balancing housekeeping with factory management, 2) the challenge of motherhood alongside management, 3) the challenge of nursing, 4) the challenge of marital responsibilities, 5) the unequal opportunity prerequisite of double effort, and 6) the challenge of insecurity. Each of these themes was discussed in detail. 
Conclusion: The research findings reveal that female managers, compared to their male counterparts, face unique and additional challenges alongside conventional workplace difficulties, requiring greater capabilities and resources to overcome them. Although women managers bear significant responsibilities regarding their work, housekeeping remains a priority for them, and they continually seek plans to create a balance between housekeeping and business. Undoubtedly, women constitute half of development, and effectively utilizing their capacities necessitates removing the obstacles they face in the workplace.