CHALLENGES CONFRONTING WOMEN MANAGERS IN SELECTED CORPORATE FIRMS IN THE KUMASI METROPOLIS, ASHANTI REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Globally, women represent greater proportion of the world population than their male counterpart, and yet only a small proportion are found in top level managerial position. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the challenges confronting women managers in selected corporate firms in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ashanti region of Ghana. An exploratory qualitative study design was used, with an in-depth interview to data collection among women managers in corporate firms. A purposive sampling method was used to selected study participants of senior and middle level women managers in selected corporate firms. A semi-structured interview was conducted using interview guide among twelve (12) women managers in corporate firms. A manual thematic and narrative analysis was used to analyzed the transcribed qualitative data. A total of 12 participants were studied, and challenges women managers faced were; gender stereotypes and biases, inferiority complex, and not given women enough space to freely work as women. Among others were low patronage to service, and difficulties working with others due gender biases. Requirements for managing these challenges were attributed to the need to provide women managers with in-service training, workshops, and seminars to increased their skills and knowledge. Coping strategies to managing these challenges were being self-assertive, public education and sensitization, been focused on the job, individual personality traits, emotional intelligence, and social relations of the woman. Influence of challenges on organizational performance were attributed to loss of concentration leading to decreased work output. Leaderships styles of women managers showed 3 out of 12 were transformational, and 9 out of 12 were either participatory or democratic in the discharge of their leadership responsibilities. Conclusively, gender stereotype and biases were identified as challenges women managers faced in corporate firms, and there should be increased public education and sensitization to enhance awareness of the negative effects of gender biases and improve on women ascending to leadership and managerial position.