Challenges facing women in managerial positions in the print media in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify those unique challenges facing women in the print media industry. This research study seeks to investigate the pressures, barriers and challenges unique to women in breaking the glass ceiling, which is the invisible but very real career progression barrier. These challenges include the organization culture such as gender stereo-types about work and gender discrimination in compensation, benefits and promotion. Other challenges included women's attitudes and behavior, women's career development and mentoring, balancing work and family responsibilities and finally women's training and development. This study had a specific focus on men and women in the print media industry. The focus is to establish the opinions held by both groups. Respondents included both men and women in different management levels within the media industry defined as top/senior-Management (manager, editors), middlemanagement (sub-editors, assistant managers, senior officers, and officers), nonmanagement (clerks) or equivalent. The research was conducted through descriptive research design. A self-administered questionnaire was used to elicit responses. Observations were made in numbers thus the quantitative research techniques method was used to summarize data collected. The study was carried out from February 10 - 27,2007. While men and women share the same opinion on some issues, they also have divergent views on others. Both men and women agreed that there were no sex labels placed on the jobs and that they wo.uld all ask for a pay rise and promotion if they deserved. The two groups share divergent views on affirmative action, gender equality policies implementation and promotion of women in the media industry. Accordingly, the print media industry needs to effectively use affirmative action as a tool to promote women's ambitions; select, promote and retain qualified women and prepare women for senior positions. Secondly, the print media industry needs to initiate work-life and family-friendly policies and strengthen enforcement of anti-discrimination laws. The print media should establish company-wide posting of job openings especially where the women are not able to leave the duty station due to family commitments.