Factors affecting the career advancement of black women in a selected manufacturing firm in Gauteng
- Authors: Netnou, Zola Nomzamo Joan
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Women in the professions -- South Africa -- Gauteng , Career development , Women -- Employment -- Economical aspects , Sex role in the work environment , Sexual division of labor
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33578 , vital:32889
- Description: Career advancement is viewed as an important element of job satisfaction and employee retention, however the gender differences observed in the workplace globally mean that there is gender inequality even in career growth. With South Africa’s long history of discrimination, career advancement disparities are observed along racial and gender lines. The current study’s focus is on the factors affecting the career advancement of a group of black women working for a selected manufacturing firm in Gauteng. The study highlights the importance of both the individual and the organisation in driving career advancement and asserts that there are self-driven and employer-driven factors affecting the career growth of black women employed by the selected firm. The primary objective of this study was to investigate and analyse factors affecting the career advancement of South African black African women (hereafter referred to as black women) employed by the manufacturing company. After a comprehensive literature study, three self-driven factors (pre-career choices, career capital development and attitude towards gender discrimination) and three employer-driven factors (mentorship opportunities, organisational leadership and organisational culture) were identified as factors affecting career advancement. These were subsequently empirically tested. A quantitative research paradigm was adopted for this study. The sample chosen was the entire population of black women employed by the business in question. Using the survey research method, a structured questionnaire was distributed resulting in an 85% response rate. Cronbach’s alpha was employed to test the reliability or internal consistency of the research instruments, resulting in the minimum acceptable level of 0.70 being met. The data collected were subjected to statistical analyses using simple regression analysis, one-factor Anova and descriptive statistics. The simple regression analysis revealed that pre-career choices had a statistically significant positive influence on career advancement. Furthermore, the findings suggest a link between education and employability, as the majority of the respondents (53%) possessed tertiary qualifications. Although no empirical evidence was found to support the influence of the other five factors on career advancement, the use of descriptive statistics revealed clear differences brought about by variations in education, such as the significantly higher levels of career capital for respondents with post-graduate qualifications in comparison to the total sample. The findings of this study informed the recommendations made to promote the career advancement of the black women employed by the selected firm. These were recommendations for individuals to enhance their career capital through education and the pursuit of career goals, and for the organisation to support career development with a conducive environment that values all employees and affords them equal opportunities for growth.
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- Date Issued: 2018
A phenomenological investigation of a female leader's perceptions and experience of discrimination in the work place
- Authors: Mabovula, Nonceba
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Sex discrimination against women , Sex discrimination in employment , Women -- Employment , Sexual division of labor , Women -- Economic conditions , Sex role in the work environment , Leadership in women
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1699 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003582 , Sex discrimination against women , Sex discrimination in employment , Women -- Employment , Sexual division of labor , Women -- Economic conditions , Sex role in the work environment , Leadership in women
- Description: Women are now making their mark in virtually every economic sector including traditionally male strongholds of engineering, heavy transport, construction and manufacturing. Probably the most spectacular progress by women has been in the public sector. Many women now have voting rights, follow careers which demand that they work outside of the home, enjoy professional status equal to their male compatriots, occupy top leadership positions in their societies and, furthermore, fulfil their traditional roles of wife and mother. The present study is an attempt to explore a female eader’s perceptions and experience of discrimination in her place of work. The problem has been that although there have been significant changes in women’s increased representation in recent years, it is believed that women who succeed in obtaining top management posts still have to deal with unfair barriers. These need to be more carefully explored and understood. In this study I focus on one female leader’s perceptions and experiences of leadership in an institution of higher learning. The advantages and disadvantages of such a small case study are discussed later. A phenomenological approach was used for obtaining information pertaining to the phenomenon “female leadership”, because phenomenology does offer ways of understanding not offered by other research methodologies. It enables the researcher to enter the lived world of the researched, and understand events and perceptions from a fresh point of view. A semi-structured interview was used to allow the respondent freedom to elaborate on responses in whatever manner she wished. The results obtained indicate that women are in a life-world in which, apart from the general experiences shared with their male counterparts, they are also exposed to many other forms of discrimination. Some of these are subtle, and result from years of socialisation into perceived gender role expectations. I hope that what I have discovered may help to contribute to the small but growing body of literature that seeks to understand women leaders’ experiences, and perhaps in time play a role in enhancing their relative position in education and society at large.
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- Date Issued: 2003