- Title
- Implementation of gender equality policies to enhance female leadership in Zimbabwean universities : towards a comprehensive framework
- Creator
- Chitsamatanga, Bellita Banda
- Subject
- Sex differences in education Discrimination in education Women executives
- Date Issued
- 2016
- Date
- 2016
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Doctoral
- Type
- PhD
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13571
- Identifier
- vital:39680
- Description
- This study critically examined the implementation of gender equality policies to enhance female leadership in Zimbabwean universities. Three theoretical frameworks were adopted for this study which were: The feminist critical policy analysis, top-down and bottom-up policy implementation theories. Within this study an interpretive paradigm which aligned with the qualitative approach and the case study design to better understand the phenomena were adopted. The study covered two state universities in Zimbabwe which were purposively selected. The participants who comprised Pro Vice Chancellors, Deputy Registrars Human Resources, Faculty Deans, Director of Gender Schools, Senior Administrative Registrars, Chairpersons of Departments and males and female academics were also purposively selected. Semi structured interviews, focus group discussion and document analysis were used as data collection instruments. Data were analysed using content analysis and the emerging results were organised into different themes reflective of the participant’s responses. The findings of the study presuppose that the state universities Zimbabwe were implementing gender sensitive organisational culture through open door policy and this promoted transformational leadership in both universities. The study revealed that both universities consulted internal and external gender experts and top-down and bottom-up consultations were made during policy formulation. It was discovered from the study that both universities had also utilised gender mainstreaming and affirmative action as strategies for promoting female leadership and gender equality. Despite teaching and learning, community engagement, research, recruitment and promotions which were used to promote the gender agenda, there were indications that these were being implemented in a haphazard manner. This adversely influenced active participation of females in decision making processes. The collected data also showed that both universities had enacted gender structures which were in line with international, regional and national gender policies and conventions and were being used to irradiate the importance of having gender parity in top positions. The findings of the study further illuminated that monitoring and evaluation of the gender equality policy and programs in place to advance females to leadership positions had not been done, leading to major impediments to achievement of gender balance. There also emerged a number of challenges which were uniform in both universities namely; lack of gender knowledge; commitment, lack of gender training and workshops, lack of consultation using bottom-up approach, gender budgeting and inadequate resources. Though the above mentioned were identified as encumbering features in both universities there was a substantiation of pockets of good practices. These were; implementation of gender equality policy, involvement of internal and external gender experts to policy formulation; promotion of shared power and authentic leadership through transparent selection of chairperson of departments; gender workshop and training; staff development programmes; enactment of gender structures, enhanced community engagement and liaison with NGOs to promote gender agenda at all levels. Regardless of the number of hurdles that indicate that universities continue to be fraught with challenges in promoting female leadership, the pockets of good practices are evidence that both universities are making positive strides through the implementation of gender equality policies to enhance female leadership. Therefore, to benchmark changes in universities, the study recommends that transformational leadership must permeate in all university structures to promote an organisational culture that is gender sensitive. There must be adequate resources, gender training and workshops; focal persons and points; commitment and political will, gender experts from governmental to ministerial levels and satellite gender structures. Monitoring and evaluation should be carried out in both universities and this should be guided by a framework so as to assist universities to tap into female empowerment and gender equality that will promote the interests of both genders, while retaining the quality and excellence in universities. Lastly, the findings of the study and the extant literature are indicative that enhancement of female leadership in universities is currently affected by a number of challenges. Therefore, as part of redress, the researcher recommends a comprehensive framework which illuminates pockets of good practices in implementing gender equality policies to enhance female leadership in universities.
- Format
- 450 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- University of Fort Hare
- Publisher
- Faculty of Education
- Language
- English
- Rights
- University of Fort Hare
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | CD WRITING GRADUATION FINAL FORMATTED THESIS.pdf | 3 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |