The role of women in the workplace has been faced with a myriad of
challenges in their attempts to break through into what has been and is
still a mans world. The fight to climb through to the top levels
has
been an exercise in futility given the nature of male dominance. The
organization can however look at ways in which they can restructure this
in order to avoid favoring men or patronizing women. Here are some of
the key points the organization can look at in the quest for equality at
the work place.
Developing
awareness training for senior and other levels of management towards
the benefit of women managers and also encouraging them to take up
strategic positions at the organization without the fear of
discrimination.
Provide
for personal development opportunities in form of secondments, special
projects and other opportunities to undertake new challenges thus giving
the women an opportunity to explore or even discover their abilities.
Ensuring
that individuals’ rights are not infringed merely because of their
gender or whether they are part time employees or maybe because they
have had gaps with the organizations which do not warrant right
discrimination.
An
increased dependence on team- working in organizations which creates a
situation where women managers are favored since it requires
participatory leadership style. Dominance from one gender is reduced and
team work encouraged.
Change
of structures from career structures to flatter structures that can
help an organization provide equal working conditions, both genders can
experience opportunities, periods of unemployment, and a portfolio of
jobs in their careers. Career breaks for women in such circumstances are
less likely to be seen as an impediment to women’s employment.
Going
beyond the minimal requirements set by the legislations regarding sex
discrimination whether internally or externally also plays a major role
in empowering women to stand and take up duties and responsibilities.
SUMMARY
Inequality in relation to the role of women at the workplace cannot be
reduced if the women are not ready to take up the duties and
responsibilities that come with climbing the corporate larder. The
biggest hurdle for women to gain empowerment has been women themselves.
As much as the organization might put all these in structures in place,
the self confidence and self efficacy of women largely depends on how
high they can jump.
Humphrey Indeje