ACTORS AFFECTING WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN LEADERSHIP POSITION IN PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS:(THE CASE OF GONDAR CITY ADMINISTRATION)

Abstract

Women account for half of the world population. They play significant role in the economic, social and political spheres of the sociality. However, in most countries, specifically, in developing countries, women are highly underrepresented in leadership positions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of personal, sociocultural and organizational factors on women employees’ participation in leadership positions in public sector organizations. Thus, adopting an explanatory research design a total of 356 employees were selected from all public sectors organizations using stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using pilot tested closed ended questionnaire adopted from other sources. Data analysis were undertaken using statistical software, SPSS version 20. Specifically, frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Findings show that women employees did not adequately participate in leadership positions of the public sector organizations. Women’s participation in leadership positions has statistically significant negative relationship with personal factors, organizational factors and sociocultural factors The overall regression model shows that all factors was significantly affect women employees’ participation in leadership positions.Finally, it is recommended thatthe public sectors administration in general and leaders and managers of respective sector office in particular are recommended to address women employees’ personal factors such as lack self-confidence through taking appropriate measures such as arranging assertiveness, communication and leadership trainings.