Investigating challenges faced by females in senior positions at Transnet port terminals, Richards Bay.

Abstract

The body of knowledge investigated stagnating numbers of women in leadership. However, to support such studies the need to focus on empirical studies of the challenges females in positions of power and authority deal with on a daily basis, is of vital importance. The barriers and obstacles of dealing with seniors, subordinates and equals in relations to customers on service delivery and contractors of Transnet Port Terminals, Richards Bay. This study contributed to the existing body of knowledge by looking at the literature related to women in leadership/ management roles in the South African context and the kind of obstacles and barriers that exist within the Terminals. There are four dimensions that the literature focused on in relation to dynamics of women in leadership roles, in corporate sphere, the labour force, political and academic circles. The barriers that females in senior positions are gender and age stereotype, lack of honesty on performance issues, lack of adequate support when it comes to position of authority and the fact that people still perceive women as weak in decisionmaking. Females in leadership positions at the Terminals are adequately skilled, qualified and placed in relevant positions for potential growth. The lacking skills and experience are within the engineering and technical department hence this shows that there is still so much work to be done to empower females with such skills. Inequalities still exist in gender and qualification and there is a need to groom enough women in leadership, academics and engineering.