The barriers to Female Participation at Leadership Positions in Corporate Zimbabwe: A Case Study of Mutare Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study expounds the ongoing debate and sheds light on the barriers to women’s participation in corporate Zimbabwe using Mutare as a case study. The study analyses the nature of women and men’s participation in the corporate sector in Zimbabwe and focuses on how women and men are perceived in the corporate realm and how these perceptions inform their interaction. Institutional, cultural and societal barriers limiting women were evaluated and debated using the previous works of scholars, media articles and various notable individuals that have added their voices to this important debate. The majority of the researcher’s tools of analysis were drawn from qualitative research methods. Interviews and questionnaires were used to seek the perspective of men and women and to gain insight of their experience and outlook in corporate Zimbabwe.. The respondents comprised 10 women and 10 men. The study found that women are disproportionately represented in corporate Zimbabwe. Men make up most of the managerial and directorial positions and women despite being as qualified academically and in some cases professionally, women were mostly subordinates. The study further found that women’s participation is hindered by several factors which include gender divisions of labor that extend into the work space, unequal access to and control of resources, socio-cultural factors and to a lesser extent religious perceptions. LIST OF KEYWORDS: