Syftet med föreliggande studie var att undersöka hur kvinnliga chefer inom en mansdominerad bransch upplever sin ledarskapsroll. Genom en kvalitativ studie genomfördes sex intervjuer med kvinnor i en ledarskapsroll inom mansdominerade branscher. Dataanalysen genomfördes utifrån en induktiv tematisk analys och utifrån det transkriberade materialet framkom fyra huvudteman; ledarskapsrollen, hinder som kvinna och chef, branschkultur och stereotypa attityder. Resultatet visade att flertalet kvinnor upplevde att deras ledarskap är av mjuk karaktär vilket de menade var en väsentlig skillnad i jämförelse med deras manliga kollegors ledarskapsstil i samma position. Utifrån respondenternas upplevelser framkom även att kvinnorna upplevde hinder och utmaningar som inte män i samma position står inför i en mansdominerad bransch. Dessa hinder var bland annat en tuff jargong och kultur samt låga förväntningar och höga prestationskrav som grundar sig i stereotypa föreställningar. / The aim of the present study was to examine how female managers perceive their role as a leader in a male-dominated industry. To investigate this, a qualitative method was applied, using semistructured interviews with sex female leaders within a male-dominated branch. The data collection was analysed using inductive thematic analysis where four themes was identified: the leadership role, obstacles for female managers, branch culture and gender stereotyped attitudes. The result revealed that most of the women experienced that their leadership style was characterized by a soft nature, which they believed was a significant difference compared to their male colleagues’ leadership style in the same position. Based on the respondents experiences it was found that women experienced obstacles that not men in the same position face in a male-dominated industry. These obstacles were a tough jargon and culture as well as low expectations and high-performance requirements based on stereotypical conceptions.

Kenyan labour laws inadequately protect HIV positive worker. The Constitution of Kenya, 1963, does not prohibit stereotypical attitudes adverse to HIV positive workers and discrimination on the basis of health status. It does not provide for the right to employment, health and health care services, and fails to delimit privacy and dignity rights. Under the Industrial Property Act, 2001, the basis for Government exploitation of patent through compulsory licensing is whimsical and parallel importing is not envisaged. Employers unilaterally draft employment contracts notwithstanding their unequal power relations to employees. The HIV and AIDS Tribunal institutionalises discrimination against HIV positive workers on the basis of the ambiguous ‘inherent job requirements.’ Plausible international labour laws and practices have no place in Kenya unless they are domesticated. SUMMARY This thesis interrogates the Kenyan labour laws and policies to identify their inefficiencies and suggest recommendations for reform. It commences with an analysis of the topical issues associated with the HIV positive worker. It then examines the extent of prevalence and ramifications of HIV/AIDS in Kenya. Subsequently, it studies the efforts made at the international and domestic arena in protecting the HIV positive worker. A comparative analysis is made of the laws protecting the HIV positive worker in a number of countries, namely, South Africa, United States of America and Australia. The thesis draws conclusions and recommends measures on how best to protect the Kenyan HIV positive worker. The labour laws should be amended to prohibit discrimination on the basis of health status, provide for right to affordable medication and work, allow negotiation of employment contracts, list international laws that Kenya ratifies without reservation as a source of law and delimit the concept of ‘inherent requirements of a job.’ The public should be sensitised to embrace HIV positive workers. Once the new Constitution is enacted, it should list socio-economic rights as fundamental rights and reform the office of the ombudsman to deal with complaints against private employers. / (LL.D.)

Kenyan labour laws inadequately protect HIV positive worker. The Constitution of Kenya, 1963, does not prohibit stereotypical attitudes adverse to HIV positive workers and discrimination on the basis of health status. It does not provide for the right to employment, health and health care services, and fails to delimit privacy and dignity rights. Under the Industrial Property Act, 2001, the basis for Government exploitation of patent through compulsory licensing is whimsical and parallel importing is not envisaged. Employers unilaterally draft employment contracts notwithstanding their unequal power relations to employees. The HIV and AIDS Tribunal institutionalises discrimination against HIV positive workers on the basis of the ambiguous ‘inherent job requirements.’ Plausible international labour laws and practices have no place in Kenya unless they are domesticated. SUMMARY This thesis interrogates the Kenyan labour laws and policies to identify their inefficiencies and suggest recommendations for reform. It commences with an analysis of the topical issues associated with the HIV positive worker. It then examines the extent of prevalence and ramifications of HIV/AIDS in Kenya. Subsequently, it studies the efforts made at the international and domestic arena in protecting the HIV positive worker. A comparative analysis is made of the laws protecting the HIV positive worker in a number of countries, namely, South Africa, United States of America and Australia. The thesis draws conclusions and recommends measures on how best to protect the Kenyan HIV positive worker. The labour laws should be amended to prohibit discrimination on the basis of health status, provide for right to affordable medication and work, allow negotiation of employment contracts, list international laws that Kenya ratifies without reservation as a source of law and delimit the concept of ‘inherent requirements of a job.’ The public should be sensitised to embrace HIV positive workers. Once the new Constitution is enacted, it should list socio-economic rights as fundamental rights and reform the office of the ombudsman to deal with complaints against private employers. / (LL.D.)