Challenges And Opportunities Of Women Managers: The Case Of Public Sectors In Ambo District, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was generally intended to examine challenges facing and available opportunities for women managers in the Public Sectors of Ambo District, West Shoa Zone. Moreover, it was concerned with asking about the status, identifying challenges, and explaining initiatives taken by the sectors to resolve women managers’ problems. Simple random sampling was used to collect the required data through a structured questionnaire and conduct interviews with 1 head and 3 experts purposively selected to get sufficient information from the Women and Children’s office. One hundred thirty-one questionnaires (131) were distributed and ninety-five percent (95%) of them were returned were 5 % filled. To achieve the study's aims, the study used a descriptive research design along with Qualitative and Quantitative research approaches. A closed-ended questionnaire and a Five-point Likert scale were used as measuring methods. In addition, data were collected through interviews and document reviews to supplement data gained through a questionnaire survey. Tables and figures were used to show the data, which were then evaluated using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviations with the help of SPSS version 20). It is found that women are generally underrepresented in public sectors and the majority of them are not adequately held managerial positions. Gaps in the glass ceiling, socio-cultural factors, gender stereotyping, and individual and organizational barriers are the major challenges for women to join and step forward in managerial positions. Public sectors and the local government have taken some encouraging initiatives to increase women’s share of managerial positions. However, women themselves are not adequate to avoid the glass ceiling attitudes in managerial occupations although current political movements and international institutions’ pressure among others are available opportunities. Generally, women managers have encountered challenges both within the organization and outside of the organization. Therefore, in addition to using available opportunities, all collective efforts of stakeholders are generally recommended to minimize the challenges facing women managers in the public sectors of Ambo Distric