| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to identify those unique challenges facing women in
the print media industry. This research study seeks to investigate the pressures,
barriers and challenges unique to women in breaking the glass ceiling, which is the
invisible but very real career progression barrier. These challenges include the
organization culture such as gender stereo-types about work and gender
discrimination in compensation, benefits and promotion. Other challenges
included women's attitudes and behavior, women's career development and
mentoring, balancing work and family responsibilities and finally women's
training and development. This study had a specific focus on men and women in
the print media industry. The focus is to establish the opinions held by both
groups.
Respondents included both men and women in different management levels within
the media industry defined as top/senior-Management (manager, editors), middlemanagement
(sub-editors, assistant managers, senior officers, and officers), nonmanagement
(clerks) or equivalent. The research was conducted through
descriptive research design. A self-administered questionnaire was used to elicit
responses. Observations were made in numbers thus the quantitative research
techniques method was used to summarize data collected. The study was carried
out from February 10 - 27,2007.
While men and women share the same opinion on some issues, they also have
divergent views on others. Both men and women agreed that there were no sex
labels placed on the jobs and that they wo.uld all ask for a pay rise and promotion
if they deserved. The two groups share divergent views on affirmative action,
gender equality policies implementation and promotion of women in the media
industry.
Accordingly, the print media industry needs to effectively use affirmative action as
a tool to promote women's ambitions; select, promote and retain qualified women
and prepare women for senior positions. Secondly, the print media industry needs
to initiate work-life and family-friendly policies and strengthen enforcement of
anti-discrimination laws. The print media should establish company-wide posting
of job openings especially where the women are not able to leave the duty station
due to family commitments. | en |
