Gender equality and the advancement of women into senior management positions : assessing the perceptions of the diversity and gender initiatives section of the City of Cape Town

[摘要] ENGLISH SUMMARY : Gender equality is a contentiously broad subject, influenced, and cemented by subjects and actions that occur universally in domestic and industrial spaces. Traditionally, sociocultural theories inherently defined women as inferior to men, and presented gender-related favours to men at women's exclusion with such exclusions leading to gender-biased gaps and gender inequalities particularly in the labour market. Given the inherently unequal power relations in the labour market domain, the study has set to assess DGIS practitioners' perceptions and selected managers' assertion on gender equality particularly, the advancement of women into senior management positions.The literature reviewed focused on some of the key concepts and theories essential in the gender equality discourse and looked at the measures, theories, and frameworks critical in creating a gender equality environment within the workspace. Furthermore, it highlighted the significance of the international and domestic community's gender equality legislative and policy framework. The research methodology employed was both qualitative and quantitative in nature and adopted three data-collection techniques - short self-administered survey questionnaire administered; basic semi-structured interviews; and a review of the City's EE framework documents.Findings were collated into themes, augmented with the City's EE framework documentation and the literature reviewed. Research findings indicated that progress of women into senior management positions in the City was limited with challenges encountered in the implementation process of the City's EE frameworks. The City's organisational culture and practises constrained efforts of gender equality, with levels of buy-in and commitment from senior management peripheral. The research concludes with recommendations for institutionalising diversity management implementation approaches and adoptions across the City and gender equality refocused as an essential subject in the City.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University