| dc.description.abstract | This study set out to assess the women workers' rights in employment as a quest for
equal opportunity. Specifically, the study looks at the ways Kenyan women in Nairobi
are being discriminated in the labour market especially at the recruitment levels. More
still, the paper analysed the way women at work place are being looked down upon,
abused and misused by their employers (mostly male) simply because of their gender.
The study used broadly Marxist approach and specifically Social feminism approaches to
nuance the gender issues at employment sector for women. The study relied on both
primary and secondary data sources. Primary data was collected from both key
informants and women respondents using questionnaires. Secondary data was collected
from available literature on the subject of study. Primary data was processed and
analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Through this method,
variables and frequencies were generated.
The study found that inequality at work place was measured in terms of salary scales, as
well as positioning in terms of job grades or group cadres. These were also said to be
influenced by several factors: place of origin, work qualification, and educational
attainments putting women at the periphery. The study also found that job intake and
recruitment for women is not always fair. Most of the time, this depend on ones
qualifications, being connected or known to those already in employment, as well as seeking and offering of favours which puts women literary compromising position .
Social cultural issues were also found by this study to be a great impediment to women
careers at employment. The study found that gender roles are not only spelled out by our
cultures, but also look down upon women efforts to climb the employment ladder.
Women therefore face surmounting problems in their endeavor to obtain job
opportunities in our society as many reported biasness of different forms: that some jobs
are unsuitable for women, gender biasness which favours men to get jobs before women,
as well as workplace segregation and harassment to women.
The study also found that rewards and promotion at workplace do not come easily.
Rewards at work place range from work compensation, promotion as well as
appreciation. Some women would complained that men prod against them being
recognised and promoted because they see themselves as being discriminated against.
Nonetheless, enhancing gender equality at the work place seems to be the right thing to
protect women rights as majority 87% of the respondents in this survey think affirmative
action is the way forward.
This study therefore makes a number of recommendations. The study recommends for
further research on why men are favored by society (and families in particular)
compared to women in attaining the academic qualifications. The study further
recommends more research in ways and means of coping mechanisms for the
unemployed and employed women especially in the urban sectors. In terms of policy
recommendations, the study suggests policies to address women rights in the employment
sector. Policies of engendering equality, policies addressing all sorts of abuses and
policies of guarding women rights would come in handy to address workplace
discrimination. | en |
