Women’s Low Participation in Top Leadership Positions in North Shoa Zonal Administration, Amhara Region, Ethiopia: Its Determinants

Ayantu Kebede

doi:10.7176/dcs/11-8-03

Abstract

Women represent over half of the Ethiopian population, but their participation in different leadership positions of public institutions is vastly underrepresented. Women in North Shoa zone administration also experiencing this problem. Therefore, in order to investigate the determinants of this problem, demographic factors such as age and marital status; personal factors, organizational factors and socio-cultural factors were considered in the study. Both descriptive design and explanatory design were employed. 95.49 % response rate was used in the study. Simple random sampling and judgmental sampling technique were used to select sample respondents. Data were collected from primary sources through structured questionnaires. Pearson correlation, cross tabulation and multiple linear regressions were employed. Age(β=0.08,P<.001), marital status(β=0.346,p<0.01), personalfactors ((β=0.320,p<0.01),organizational factors(β=0.290,P<0.001) and socio-cultural factors(β=0.213, p<0.01) had significant effect on women’s participation in leadership positions in the study area. Accordingly, recommendations were forwarded so as to increase the participation of women’s in leadership positions in the study area. Key Terms : Determinants, women, leadership positions, North Shoa Zonal Administration DOI: 10.7176/DCS/11-8-03 Publication date: October 31 st 2021

Highlights

The low participation of women in any aspect of life has become an issue in all over the world and they are frequently excluded from position of power
Women in Africa have been faced with similar challenges and obstacles to their wellbeing and development including exclusion among others in leadership positions (Genet and Habtu, 2011).This fact is true in Ethiopia
Women represent over half of the Ethiopian population, but their participation in different managerial positions of public institutions is vastly underrepresented (Wubante D., 2018)

Summary

Introduction

The low participation of women in any aspect of life has become an issue in all over the world and they are frequently excluded from position of power This situation has affected women in many ways and results violation of their rights (ThorntonB., 2012). Gender stereotyping, over burden of domestic responsibility, lack of confidence, lack of support at home and work place, religious practice, lack of experience are the main factors that hindered women’s empowerment in leadership position in Ethiopia (Nigist M., 2019). Gojjam A. and Minijit S.(2015) conducted a research on factors affecting women’s participation in leadership and management in selected public higher education institutions in Amhara Region, Ethiopia and stereotyping, patriarchy, lack of support system at work, low academic qualification and lack of role model were found as the major barriers stifling women to assume leadership positions

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