Empowering women in the workplace : a South African perspective.
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Date
2011
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Abstract
Empowerment is the degree of flexibility and freedom provided to individuals to
make decisions in relation to their work. Individuals tend to respond more
creatively when given additional responsibilities and are encouraged to contribute
to and attain satisfaction from their work and its environment. Women in South
Africa have unfortunately found it difficult to take advantage of this flexibility and
freedom due to the countries past policies and laws. They have to face various
barriers that restrict them from advancing in their careers and in the workplace,
particularly at senior management levels. One of these barriers is to balance work
and family life. The government has legislated policies and procedures for the
empowerment of women in the workplace. Companies are required to use these
policies and procedures to promote women to senior levels of management. The
aim of the study is to determine whether women in South Africa are being
empowered in the workplace and the impact of organisational practices on their
progression. This study used a quantitative research design and data was
collected using an electronic questionnaire in the Greater Durban Area using a
non-probability sample. There were 129 respondents who responded to the
electronic questionnaire of which only 121 were valid responses. The study
showed that women were not accepted in a managerial role yet respondents
preferred female managers due to their influence in the workplace. Barriers which
affected women in acquiring higher positions in their companies were identified.
The findings indicate that organisations which have policies and procedures in
place invest in developing female leaders and managers. Based on the research
findings it is recommended that organisations need to be more supportive of
women with families. In this way they could retain the best. In addition,
organisations need to ensure that for empowerment of women to materialise;
power sharing, skills development and positive relationships should be a part of
their organisations’ empowerment strategy. Government may need to change
certain policies and procedures to encourage the promotion of women in the
workplace.
Description
Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.
Keywords
Women--Employment--South Africa., Sex discrimination against women--South Africa., Theses--Business administration., Discrimination in employment--South Africa.