Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was carried out in an effort to determine whether the phenomenon of the socalled 'glass-ceiling effect' is prevalent in the South African banking industry. The major questions asked were whether there are still barriers preventing women from reaching executive management levels in the banking industry and what the main barriers facing these women are. The research method used was that of content analysis. The purpose of the research was to discover the first-hand experiences of the women in the banking industry in South Africa. The aim of the study was not to test hypothesis testing, but an analysis of the experiences of a sample of women in senior management positions within the banking industry. A questionnaire was distributed to six women in senior management positions at four of South Africa's largest banking groups. With the assistance of each banking group's human resources manager, an 83% response rate was achieved. In total, 20 completed questionnaires were received, which served as the sample for this study. Implications of the findings are discussed and the study concludes that although transformation in the country has raised awareness, there is nevertheless gender inequality in companies and progress towards change in the banking sector has been very slow. Career-oriented support structures are being offered to women, but for women with family responsibilities there are very limited, if any, family-support structures. The sample of women identified self-confidence; assertiveness, ambition and a careeroriented mindset as important characteristics for achieving success at managerial level in the banking industry. These women are equipping themselves with the right skills, degrees, and courses and are gaining experience every day, thus making themselves viable candidates for breaking the glass ceiling. Being a woman is not a barrier in itself as it was in years gone by and legislation now provides for the equal treatment of all races and gender. The current culture in the South African banking sector, which is a historic legacy of domination by men and discrimination in the past, seems to be a rnalor barrier. Currently, the focus on achieving racial equity overshadows the importance of attaining gender equity, mainly because of the government's strict requirements of companies in this regard. Taking into consideration the history of South Africa, the majority of the women included in the sample feel it is appropriate for the attainment of racial equity to be addressed first. Most of the women in this sample have considered starting up their own business as an alternative to corporate life, but feel that either their self-confidence or financial requirements present them with major barriers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is onderneem om vas te stel of die sogenaamde glasplafon-verskynsel in die Suid-Afrikaanse banksektor voorkom. Die oorhoofse vrae wat gestel was, was of daar steeds hindernisse bestaan en wat hierdie oorhoofse hindernisse is wat vroue verhoed om uitvoerende bestuursvlakke in die banksektor te bereik. Die inhoudsontledingsmetode is as navorsingsmetode gebruik. Die doel van die navorsing was om eerstehands die ervarings van vroue in die banksektor te ontdek. Die studie het nie 'n hipotese probeer toets nie, maar eerder die ervarings van 'n uitgesoekte groep vroue ontleed. 'n Vraelys is aan ses vroue in senior bestuursposte by vier van Suid-Afrika se grootste bankgroepe versprei. Met behulp van die Menslike Hulpbron-bestuurder by elk van die banke, is 83% van die vraelyste terugontvang. Altesame 20 vraelyste is volledig ingevul en in die studie gebruik. Die implikasies van die bevindinge word bespreek. Die gevolgtrekking is dat transformasie in Suid-Afrika beslis die bewustheid aangewakker het dat geslagsdiskriminasie in maatskappye bestaan, en dat verandering in die banksektor stadig verloop. Maatskappye verskaf loopbaangeoriënteerde ondersteuningstrukture aan vroue, maar vir vroue met gesinsverantwoordelikhede is daar min of geen ondersteuning nie. Die groep vroue identifiseer selfvertroue, stelligheid, ambisie en 'n loopbaangeoriënteerde uitkyk as belangrike eienskappe vir sukses in senior bestuursposte in die bankwese. Hierdie vroue rus hulself toe met die regte vaardighede, grade en kursusse en verwerf elke dag ondervinding om sodoende hulself lewensvatbare kandidate te maak om deur die sogenaamde glasplafon te breek. Om vroulik te wees is nie vandag meer 'n hindernis soos voorheen nie. Wetgewing bepaal die gelyke behandeling van alle rasse- en geslagsgroepe. Die kultuur wat in die banksektor in Suid-Afrika geskep is weens die histories mansgedomineerde en diskriminerende geskiedenis word wel as 'n hindernis beskou. Huidiglik oorskadu rassegelykheid geslagsgelykheid, hoofsaaklik omdat die regering sulke streng vereistes aan maatskappye stel met betrekking tot rassegelykheid. Die meerderheid van die groep vroue voel dat as die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika in ag geneem word, dit gepas is dat rassegelykheid voorkeur geniet. Die meerderheid van die vroue in die groep het dit al oorweeg om hul eie besigheid te begin as "n alterntief vir die korporatiewe lewe. Hulle voel egter dat die gebrek aan selfvertroue en geld hulle verhoed om dit te doen.

Effects of selection risk on sex discrimination in hiring were investigated. Ninety-six male and female educational administration graduate students rated ficticious resumes on suitability for hiring for the female-oriented position of secondary school teacher. Sex and selection risk level were varied, with sex of rater as an assigned factor. Analysis of variance yielded significant main effects for sex (p < .01) and selection risk level (p < .05). All ratings were lower in high selection-risk situations, with males preferred over females across both levels of risk. Results suggested that ratings were based on a stereotype of female inferiority in work efficiency, overriding job sex-orientation as a decision factor.

This study first summarizes extant empirical research concerning role depiction of women in television. Analysis of these studies show television's portrayal of women as discriminatory. Second, this study reports results of an original survey of women's organizations to determine what stands and actions had been taken concerning (1) role depiction and (2) employment of women by the television industry. Out of ninety-two organizations surveyed, fifty-one (55 percent) returned useable questionnaires. Responding groups fell into nine categories, with political and educational organizations most active. National Organization for Women was particularly active. Responding groups most often used "citizen action" and "informational actions" to achieve goals.

Look at the challenge of gender equity and global trends and its impact on Eskom / Women form 52 percent of the adult population in South Africa, the majority of the population, but their status in the workplace is marginalized. The Commission of Employment Equity 2003 report revealed that women represent only 37% of the total workforce and 21% of all senior management positions and only 14% of top management positions. The study firstly investigates if gender barriers are creating obstacles for the advancement of women to senior management positions. The evidence of the research indicates that barriers do exist and the most prominent of these barriers included organizational culture, men not supporting women in the organization, division of labour, lack of after care facilities and women not supporting each other. Organizations need to admit that barriers do exist before any meaningful change can be made to the working environment of women. Secondly the study investigates the impact of gender equity targets as some organizations are attempting to increase the number of women in their business. Although gender targets results in an increase of women in the workplace it has negatively impacted the morale of men. Lastly the effectiveness of some of the strategies like mentorship, training and development, networking, flexible work policies are examined. These strategies will only be effective if the organizations are committed in ensuring a balanced workforce. Organizations needs to realize that diversity should be seen as a great opportunity to be encouraged and nurtured. / Graduate School of Business Leadership / MBL

As the American population ages, the issues of aging and work have gradually come to the forefront. An older and increasingly diverse workforce has raised concerns over job performance, labor costs, and alternative work demands. At the same time, evidence indicates that older workers continue to experience extensive labor market problems due to false assumptions on the part of managers about the limiting effect of age on employee performance. The public sector's ability to respond to age-related issues in the workplace has largely been ignored by both public practitioners and researchers. This study addresses the questions of whether age negatively influences public personnel decisions, and if so, whether such influences adversely affect the treatment of older workers. The results of the survey indicate that public managers are susceptible to age bias when making personnel decisions.

M.A. / Despite constitutional and legislative measures to promote gender equality, gender inequality pervades the South African political, social and economic sectors. It is imperative that government uses gender sensitive policy instruments to reverse these imbalances. Gender expenditure analyses on national budget votes reveal a perpetuation of gender inequality. This municipal study assesses Johannesburg’s water budget process using an analytical framework of three criteria: representation; participation and benefit accrued to women. It determines that administrative representation of women in Johannesburg Water is nominal, the drafting of the budget remains patriarchal and representation of gender concerns for water provision in the consultation phase is not evident. The participation of women in the consultation and approval phases cannot be quantified. Women benefit minimally as employees and as entrepreneurs. This study determines that there is a potentially significant gendered impact of Johannesburg’s water budget, which motivates for this policy instrument to be gender sensitive. / Mr. H. Robertson Prof. Y. Sadie

A report on a research study presented to The Department of Social Work School of Human and Community Development Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters of Arts in Occupational Social Work by Coursework and Research Report May, 2016 / In spite of the government’s aim to promote gender equality in the workplace, women are still underrepresented in management positions. Women still face many challenges, such as discrimination, gender stereotypes, the ‘glass ceiling’ and work/family conflict. This study sought to explore how women in management positions balance work and their family responsibilities. The study adopted the qualitative research approach and used multiple case studies to study the experiences of women in management positions. The study population consisted of women in management positions at Nkangala District in Mpumalanga. Purposive sampling was adopted to select eight participants for the study. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect data from the participants. To analyse the data, the researcher adopted thematic content analysis. The study revealed that women in management positions face conflict between their work role and family responsibilities. Participants also indicated that they managed the conflict through careful structuring and planning of their activities, prioritizing their responsibilities and delegating some of their duties. Participants also indicated that they needed support from spouses, families, employers, supervisors and colleagues in order to cope with their multiple roles. It is recommended that organizations (employers) develop policies that enable women in management positions to achieve work-life balance. Such policies may include career breaks, job sharing, flexible working arrangements and childcare policies. The study has the potential to contribute to a growing body of knowledge on how women in management positions balance their work and family responsibilities. Furthermore, the study could help managers and understand the experiences of women managers in the workplace, and thereby enable them to respond more effectively to the challenges that these women face. The study might be useful to other women in management positions, as the findings will help to create awareness of the challenges women in management face in balancing work and family responsibilities

This study investigates the defensibility of affirmative action in education. The struggle against apartheid society and apartheid education has also been a struggle to build a democratic society and a democratic way of learning. For South Africa, the children's education should be compatible with the ideals of democratic society. In order to rectify the racist discrimination and insensitivity of the apartheid regime we need to promote the ideal of complex equality. This report argues that affirmative action is not a defensible strategy for the pursuit in education as part of the process of consolidating democracy in South Africa. The notion of equality is best understood in terms of Michael Walzer’s concept of complex equality (as against simple equality). The concept of complex equality can be used to explicate the inadequacies of affirmative action. An account of education is developed which emphasizes complex equality. The application of affirmative action in education presupposes a shallow understanding of education. The pursuit of democracy through education is best promoted through a notion of complex equality because it takes into consideration the plurality of South African society.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Labour, Policy and Globalisation, 2017 / This research presents an investigation of the role played by private corporations in promoting gender equality, using the platinum mining sector in the Rustenburg area as a case study. In evaluating this role the research uses The Mining Charter, a piece of legislation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to assess the efforts that have been made by Anglo American and Impala Platinum mines. This qualitative study uses an abductive approach and a Marxist feminist theoretical perspective to establish what constitutes the problem of inequality. Relying on data collected through document analysis, which included a review of the Mining Charter, and various company annual reports, coupled with data collected from conducting interviews from September to December 2016, the research has found companies to look at the problem of gender equality from a ‘female employees statistics’ point of view. As such, the problem of equality has ignored the indirect negative impacts mining has on women in the communities in which the mining companies operate. This research understands equality as having two sides, “formal and informal” equality. While efforts by the government, and mining companies have tried to address the part of formal equality through increasing the numbers of females in mining, and improving the general conditions in which they operate, this research finds that there exists a form of “informal equality.” This informal inequality looks at the outcomes of the efforts in reality, and goes beyond the company into society. Mining companies have the ability to address this type of equality through CSR, but this research notes that CSR programs are often not viewed through a gender lens. The study therefore concludes that there is a disjuncture between the perceived results of efforts made by corporations on paper and the outcomes in reality. While corporations can contribute to promoting equality in the workplace, their understanding of equality is skewed and one sided therefore inequality continues to persist. Perhaps if companies use the strategy of gender mainstreaming to address the goal of equality, which involves taking into account the particular problems of women in all facets, then equality can be achieved. / XL2018

Thesis (LLM. (Labour Law)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / This mini-dissertation outlines the protection of rights of people living with HIV/AIDS in the workplace. It will highlight the fact that people living with HIV/AIDS can perform the work as long as they medically fit. It will show the need to promote anti discriminatory laws in the workplace. People think that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through casual contact but that will be shown in the study that HIV/AIDS can not be transmitted by casual contact. The mini-dissertation also outlines the need to educate employees about their rights more particularly those living with HIV/AIDS in the workplace. Therefore policies such as affirmative action must be implemented to affirm several advantages to people living with HIV/AIDS. Equality is what people must enjoy in the country in terms of section 9 of the Constitution including people living with HIV/AIDS.