The Glass Ceiling: Representation in Question for Kenyan Women Education Managers

Abstract

Women’s share of managerial positions world over and especially in the Kenyan education sector has been on the increase but the rate of progress is minimal. This has been attributed to the glass ceiling effects meaning that the higher one looks through the ranks, the fewer the number of women. Glass ceiling are the challenges that come with the aspiration for the upper management positions for women and is responsible for women underrepresentation in the management roles. Results from 108 respondents suitably selected for the study from the ministry of education (MOE) and the Teachers Service commission (TSC) in Kenya indicated the existence of glass ceiling effect, which privilege men and disadvantage women. Based on Formal equality of opportunity, Reinforcement theory and Rawls theory of justice the study established two level of preparing women into leadership roles; at early school level with parents and mentors taking an active role in inculcating management attributes to the girl child and at employment level with employers and women themselves taking a leading role to promote women to the senior management positions. By analyzing the effects of socialization, education levels, training and development, the role of organizational structures and culture on women career advancement, the study provides intervening measures for razing these barriers affecting women access to management positions.

Keywords: Glass ceilings, Representation, Education, Management Positions, Organizational culture, Socialization, Training and Development, Kenya.