Women in banking: Career choice and advancement

M U Orbih,D Imhonopi

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/640/1/012127

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that influenced the career choice and identify the barriers related to the career advancement of female bankers. Quantitative and in-depth interview methods were employed in this study. Close ended questionnaires were administered to female bankers in Metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages and mean rankings. The findings showed that factors such as employment opportunities, hope for career advancement, personal skills, prestige and attractiveness of bank job, remuneration, educational qualification and job suitability influenced female bankers’ choice of a career. Family responsibilities, strict banking promotional policies and employment policies and practice were identified as barriers that impedes female career advancement. The study also discovered that there is no form of gender discrimination in the banking sector in Lagos state. The study concluded that the findings would help in the better understanding of the career development of female bankers in Lagos state, Nigeria. The study recommended that Banks promote the personal well-being of their female employees, introduce and effectively implement family friendly policies, and review the promotion and employment policies.

Highlights

Career choice is a process that occurs throughout the lifetime and life cycle of an individual
The study discovered that there is no form of gender discrimination in the banking sector in Lagos state
The career choice of female bankers in Lagos state are influenced by personal factors such as educational qualifications, personal interest and the job suitability. environmental factors such as conducive environment, occupational prestige, employment opportunities, hope for advancement and salaries

Summary

Introduction

Career choice is a process that occurs throughout the lifetime and life cycle of an individual. The life pattern of a woman does not follow an orderly process such as education, career and family [32]. As they may decide to have their families before starting a career, pull out of the work force to bring up their children and withhold having families and rearing children to concentrate fully on their career [32]. There have been arguments about the complex nature of women’s career choice Based on these arguments, authors have stated clearly that women put in more efforts in work, family and other activities and attempts to balance all which requires an absolute dedication of time and energy. Sposito women’s choice of career is as a result of rational cost utility calculation, that is the process of choosing a careers that would enable them combine family responsibilities [33]

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Methods

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Conclusion