The Underrepresentation of Women in Top Management: Our Perceptions

Abstract

Gender, a socio-cultural construct may still be affecting the positioning of women in the formal sector. This paper investigates the perceived impact of the underrepresentation of women in top management among Ghanaians and the readiness of organizations to accept women for top management positions with the view of optimizing the use of female workforce at all levels.  Data were obtained through the administration of questionnaires to two hundred and sixty employees drawn from public sector establishments. The composition is made up of males and females of managerial and supervisory ranks.  One hundred and seventy useable questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed. Results indicate a strong unwillingness of organizations to fill top management positions with women despite the conviction that success in management does not depend on an individual’s gender and the profession that women in management are as effective as their male counterparts.  Respondents do not also think the near absence of women in top management has any negative impact on organizations and the economy at large.

Key Words: Underrepresentation, Women in Top management, Occupational role segregation, Ghana