Employment Opportunities For Women Research Articles

Media coverage of the impact of the war on gender segregation in the Ukrainian labor market

The article aims to outline the trends of gender professional segregation occurring in Ukraine during the military conflict. Materials and Methods. The research was carried out with the use of qualitative methods. A content analysis was chosen for this study. The material consists of online textual publications, which include interviews with managers, specialists, and employees of the State Employment Center. It also includes interviews in which women residing on the territory of Ukraine share their experiences of employment and work during the war. Results and Discussion. In Ukraine today, two factors operate in parallel. On the one hand, there is an urgent need to fill vacancies in professions that have traditionally been dominated by men. On the other hand, the financial situation of women is on the decline. Women are forced to rethink their gender identity in the family and in society because of financial difficulties and their inability to guarantee a minimum of financial stability for themselves and their families. This leads them to be willing to accept jobs with working conditions that are particularly harmful and difficult. Employment opportunities for women are increasing due to differentiated demand, which contributes to the reduction of horizontal gender segregation. One factor that impedes this process is the demand for professions traditionally considered women’s domains, which do not require basic skills, and for which demand increased during the war. These professions are mainly related to manufacturing and working specialties. Given that educated and skilled women occupy blue-collar jobs, we can expect vertical segregation to intensify during wartime, when gender differences are manifested in positions and roles with differing status or potential for advancement. In the area of state gender policy, Ukraine has business development initiatives that reduce the gender gap in women’s access to assets and capital to invest in profitable entrepreneurial industries. However, these initiatives only involve a limited number of women and cannot be associated with radical gender changes in society. At the same time, the positive aspects of reducing horizontal gender segregation observed in Ukraine during wartime may be negated by the lack of or insufficient incentives for the development of preschool education. Thus, there are few effective levers to overcome gender segregation in Ukraine in the short and medium term. Achieving gender equality in the labor market is practically declaratory. Conclusions. In the context of the wartime crisis, gender segregation is a significant issue with negative consequences. A market specifically for women’s labor is emerging, and the social status of women’s work is declining compared to pre-war times. This situation may reinforce societal stereotypes that view men as more suitable for leadership positions, potentially decreasing women’s motivation and career aspirations.

Using digital tools in the context of female dominance in the real estate market


 
 
 For society, women’s work is an important reserve necessary for the effective development of production. Negative trends related to female employment have a detrimental effect on the country’s demographic situation, as well as on social relations. Statistics show that it is women who experience the most problems in terms of career growth and professional development. The volume of job offers for women is characterized by a much narrower professional range, and the average salary level is lower. In addition, a woman’s chances of losing her job are always higher than those of men. However, the digital economy provides new employment opportunities for women. Working in real estate combined with digital tools increases female employment and equalizes income levels between men and women. The purpose of the article is to study the state of use of digital tools in the field of real estate, as an important component of increasing the efficiency of the work of real estate agency personnel.
 
 

Gender Pay Gap in Estonia

Abstract The gender pay gap continues to exist in Estonia, irrespective of its economic and social development, since the country’s inception. Addressing the prevalence of the gender pay gap is significant in the social and economic development of Estonia, as it reflects equal opportunities and social justice in a given society. Reducing the gender pay gap helps ensure that individuals, irrespective of their gender differences, receive equitable pay for their contributions, which can result in increasing their financial security and quality of life while developing an inclusive society. This study examines the gender wage gap and sexism in Estonia and compares sexism in Estonia with Sweden, in order to understand its antecedents. The findings indicate that Estonia has the highest gender wage gap in the European Union. The findings also highlight a significant level of sexism based on societal beliefs associating women’s higher earnings with marital issues and the inability to care for their children. The study further identifies education and income and significant factors influencing the prevalence of sexism in Estonia and Sweden, providing implications for increasing education and employment opportunities for women, implementing fair pay practices, and promoting workplace equality to ensure an inclusive and empowered society in Estonia.

Gender Equality Challenges in 'Wolfish' Workplaces: Examining Stereotypes and Biases

Despite significant progress in women's education and employment opportunities in contemporary China, gender discrimination and objectification continue subtly impacting women's workplace experiences. This study unveils the hidden facets of this inequality, encompassing wage disparities, stigmatization of female leaders, pregnancy-related recruitment biases, and the intricate and enduring "glass ceiling." Employing a framework of culture, workplace culture, and education, this research delves into the deep-rooted causes of gender discrimination. Subsequently, it seeks to provide relevant strategies and recommendations. Through our investigation, we discover that the roots of gender discrimination are entrenched in various aspects of Chinese society, stemming from multiple factors rather than a single cause (such as traditional Chinese culture). This study offers a comprehensive perspective on the multifaceted nature and origins of gender inequality in the Chinese workplace. It provides valuable insights for academic discourse, facilitating a better understanding of the complexity of gender discrimination issues. Additionally, it serves as a source of inspiration for future research and policy interventions.

Women's Empowerment in India: Progress, Challenges, and the Ongoing Journey

Women empowerment is a continuous process that involves addressing various aspects of gender equality and ensuring that women have equal opportunities and rights. In ancient India, women played multifaceted roles and held positions of respect in society, evident through historical texts and archaeological findings. However, the eventual erosion of these positions due to societal shifts. The people of the Indus Valley civilization worshiped female deities; they were especially worshipped "Ammatalli". The Rigveda provides glimpses into the roles and contributions of women during that era; women were actively involved in religious rituals and ceremonies. They played roles in performing sacrifices and were often praised for their dedication to these rituals. The kings and people of the Satavahanas dynasty used to put their mother's name before their name. For example, Gautamiputra Satakarni,Vasishtiputra Pulomavi. Over time, the position of women in Indian society has declined. The present modern world the position of women is lower than that of men in many countries. India is taking many steps to empower women, but the results are meager. Women's empowerment in India has witnessed significant strides, accompanied by a host of persistent challenges. Advances in education, economic participation, and legal reforms have propelled women forward, but societal norms and deep-rooted biases continue to impede their full realization of empowerment. The struggle for gender equality gained momentum with social reform movements and legal advancements, leading to increased access to education and employment opportunities for women. Although Global Gender Gap Report 2023 India has 127th place out of 146 countries. Yet, persistent issues such as gender-based violence, unequal pay, and under representation in leadership positions underscore the incomplete journey towards empowerment. In the current circumstances there is a need to examine the measures taken by India for women empowerment.

Gender disparities in financial resilience: insights from South Africa

PurposeWhile the extant literature has explored issues related to the access, usage and availability of financial services, the ability of households to withstand financial adversities, particularly those living under economically vulnerable conditions, requires further attention. The paper presents a gendered analysis of financial resilience behaviour in South Africa.Design/methodology/approachUsing a nationally representative sample of 4,880 households, this paper constructs a financial resilience behaviour index (FRBI) covering savings, credit, insurance, and retirement planning behaviours. The gendered effect of demographic characteristics on financial resilience is examined using the ordinary least square and seemingly unrelated regression techniques.FindingsThe results show that low levels of financial resilience were present across the sample with insurance observed to be the greatest driver of financial resilience, followed by retirement planning, savings and credit respectively. Furthermore, the analysis highlights that a gender gap in financial resilience exists as men are characterized with higher financial resilience behaviour compared to women. The results also suggest that employed women and women with higher levels of education are associated with greater financial resilience.Practical implicationsBased on these results, improving access to higher education and employment opportunities for women will enhance their financial resilience and contribute towards addressing SDG (5) on gender equality.Originality/valueAs far as the authors are aware, this paper presents the first empirical analysis of the gender gaps in socio-demographic characteristics that explain financial resilience in South Africa.

Effects of tourism and other macroeconomic variables on women's employment in agricultural, industry and service sectors: evidence from African countries

ABSTRACT This study aims to fill the existing literature gap by exploring tourism's effect on women's employment in 42 African countries while considering advanced econometric modelling. This study applies the panel GLS model, the two-step system GMM, and quantile regression (QR) to evaluate the data from 1996 to 2020. There is evidence to suggest that tourism has a substantial impact on women's employment. Some models are also run to examine how tourism affects women's work in agriculture, industry, and the service sector. Although tourism increases overall female labour force participation, it has a negative coefficient for explaining female labour force participation in agriculture. In fact, tourism has a substantial positive effect on the number of working women in both the service and manufacturing sectors. This research adds to the literature by highlighting the role that tourism plays in facilitating the transition of women from the agricultural workforce to those in the industrial and service sectors. The findings of this study have valuable contributions for future research since they show the importance of women's employment opportunities in agriculture, industry, and service sectors and inform policy discussions on the impact of the tourism industry on women's employment.

Relationship Between Gender, Education, Employment, and Income in The Formal and Informal Sector in Sukabumi

This study investigated the relationship between gender, education, employment, and income in the formal and informal sectors in Sukabumi. The study used a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative component involved a survey of 500 households evenly divided between men and women and between urban and rural areas. The qualitative part involved interviews with key informants and focus group discussions with women and men in Sukabumi. The study found that women in Sukabumi have lower levels of education, are less likely to be employed, and earn less than men in both formal and informal sectors. Gender norms and attitudes significantly shape women's access to education, employment, and income. The study recommends that policies prioritize women's education and employment opportunities in formal and informal sectors to promote gender equality and reduce poverty.

Rural electrification and women's empowerment in Côte d’Ivoire

PurposeThis paper assesses the impact of this program on the rural women's employment opportunities using data from the 2015 round of the household's living standard survey (HLSS) of Côte d'Ivoire.Design/methodology/approachIn 2013, in order to improve the living conditions of the rural population, the Ivorian government launched the National Program for rural electrification (PRONER) to electrify all localities with more than 500 inhabitants.FindingsThe results show that PRONER, while reducing the time allocated to performing household chores, increases women's employment through the reallocation of time to full-time paid work in the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. The authors also find that the allocation of men's time is not affected by this programme. A possible mechanism that would explain such a pro-women effect is the labour-saving technology introduced to home production as an effect of the reform.Research limitations/implicationsAs a limitation, it is important to note that these results were obtained in the specific context of PRONER in Côte d’Ivoire and are not necessarily applicable to rural electrification programmes in other contexts. Furthermore, the choice of other indicators to measure women's empowerment is limited by the quality of the data available. It would be interesting for future research to extend this analysis to include other aspects of women's empowerment and household welfare.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to the author’s knowledge to apply a robust econometric method by combining an inverse probability weighted regression adjustment model with Heckman sample selection method to access a robust causal effect of the PRONER in Côte d'Ivoire.

The impact of menstrual leave on women's employment opportunities: a comprehensive analysis

The impact of menstrual leave on women's employment opportunities: a comprehensive analysis

Women in Philippine Government Financial Institutions: A Network Analysis of Interlocking Governing Boards

Interlocking directorship is often described as the practice of members of a corporate board of directors serving on the boards of multiple corporations simultaneously. In the Philippines, previous studies have shown that of all the directors that served on the top 100 corporations, only 15 percent are women. On average, women comprise only 13 percent of the board of directors of individual companies. Hence, this study examines board interlocks within Philippine Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) and their gender aspect. By analyzing ten GFIs through network analysis over the period 2017-2019, this study finds two important points: (i) women’s representation in the board has been significantly low and (ii) board interlocking is highly connected and highly concentrated on a few directors holding multiple seats. Although they are still connected with the rest of the network members, women must go through farther and lengthier paths to reach other members than their male counterparts. This diminishes the opportunities to be an influential and significant network member. Thus, this paper recommends bringing the issue into national policy debates and creating better employment opportunities for women.

How Tourism Affects Women's Employment in Asian Countries: An Application of GMM and Quantile Regression

Based on data collected from 32 Asian countries between the years 1996 and 2020, this study investigated the effect that tourism has on women's participation in the workforce. This research makes use of a panel data model, one-step difference and system GMMs, and quantile regression. Trade, child mortality, FDI, and government spending are all taken into account in addition to GDP. The findings demonstrate that an increase in tourism led to a greater level of female participation in the employment sector. Additionally, exports and FDI both contributed to a rise in the number of women in the labor force. However, both remittances and government spending reduce women's participation in the labor force. Out of the three subsectors, the increase in tourism led to more women working in the industry and service sectors. However, a rise in tourism tends to lead to a decline in the number of agricultural jobs held by women. Women's employment opportunities in the industrial and service sectors grow as a result of tourism but shrink in the agricultural sectors. To analyze labor dynamics, this study is crucial for policymakers. It's useful for promoting tourism in Asia and formulating policy related to it. Employment-related policies in the agricultural, industrial, and service sectors of Asian economies would also benefit greatly from this.

Oil discoveries and gender inequality

AbstractSome studies suggest that resource-rich countries tend to allocate talent and investment toward the resource sector and away from manufacturing or agriculture reducing the competitiveness of these other sectors. Because mining overwhelmingly employs men, when other sectors shrink so do employment opportunities for women (Ross, 2008). This could significantly affect core social structures. Using plausibly exogenous variation in natural resource wealth due to giant oil discoveries and an event study design, this paper finds that giant oil discoveries are associated with relatively worse female outcomes as measured by higher male/female population ratios, higher teen birth rates, and lower educational attendance of tertiary education among women relative to men. However, the impact on health outcomes tapers off within 8 years. Additionally, during periods of increasing oil prices, there is no significant evidence of such effects possibly due to an income effect.

The Defeminizing Reversal: Globalization, Industrial Upgrading, and Female Labor Force Participation

Abstract As countries integrate ever further into globalized production processes, scholars have found significant country-level variation in the extent to which women are able to increase their participation in the formal economy. In this paper, I improve on existing work by disaggregating globalization into its different processes, each of which has different expected effects on female labor force participation (FLFP). I examine how trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and natural resource exports affect FLFP in a cross-national time-series analysis of 129 low- to middle-income economy countries over a twenty-eight-year period. A major contribution of this paper is to show an interaction effect between trade and FDI: I find that generally trade and inward FDI have a negative effect on FLFP that diminishes as they increase together, suggesting that export-oriented FDI creates more opportunities for women than domestic-oriented FDI and trade openness unaccompanied by significant foreign investment. I also find that the more positive effect of export-oriented FDI depends on the extent to which a country has experienced industrial upgrading, suggesting that gender segregation by industry also affects the extent to which global economic integration creates employment opportunities for women in developing countries.

A Cross-Sectional Survey on the Malaria Control and Prevention Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Caregivers of Children Under-5 in the Western Area of Sierra Leone.

(1) Background: Children under 5 years of age are the most vulnerable to malaria infection, and they suffer serious complications. Sierra Leone is one of the countries with the highest malaria burden in the world. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) toward malaria control and prevention among caregivers of children under 5 in the Western Area of Sierra Leone. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among caregivers of children under-5 visiting the out-patient department of six selected hospitals/community health centers. Data were collected via questionnaire interviews with 350 caregivers. (3) Results: A total of 97.1% of the respondents were women and the majority of them were young mothers; 46.3% of respondents were unemployed; and 27.1% received no education. Only 1.4% accessed malaria related information from the internet/social media. This KAPs survey indicated that a misconception of the cause, transmission, and clinical symptoms of malaria; unawareness of its lethality and its severity; and inappropriate prevention and treatment behaviors, such as self-medicating, were still in existence among some caregivers. However, a positive correlation in knowledge–attitudes (rs = 0.13, p < 0.05) and in attitudes–practices (rs = 0.45, p < 0.001) was revealed. The caregivers, being mothers and having at least a secondary education, demonstrated positive attitudes and practices. Meanwhile, more urban caregivers (79.8%) followed a complete malaria treatment course of artemisinin-based combination therapies than the rural (63.3%), but in view of insecticide treated net use, more rural caregivers presented positive attitudes (85.3%) and practices (70.1%) than the urban (69.9%, 52.0%). (4) Conclusions: For better protection of children under-5 against lethal malaria, it is essential to provide better guidance at the community level for their caregivers, especially young mothers, in order to reduce some misconceptions and inappropriate behaviors. An increase in education and employment opportunities for women, establishment of an accessible community-based malaria counselling service, and construction of an effective communication channel are also needed.

A systematic review of women’s entrepreneurship in the sports industry: has anything changed?

PurposeGender equity in entrepreneurship has been a global issue in several areas, and the sports context is no exception. Therefore, the present study aims to carry out a systematic review of the literature to analyze how female entrepreneurship in the context of sports organizations has been studied in the scientific community.Design/methodology/approachThe Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol was used to ensure the structure and quality of the study. Articles were obtained through a search in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, by using a set of inclusion/exclusion criteria (e.g. research equation, studies published only in English and classified as an article or review). A Microsoft Excel database was developed, from which tables and graphs were generated to help interpret the results.FindingsThe search resulted in 19 articles, grouped into four clusters: education and entrepreneurship, sports and entrepreneurial skills development, barriers to entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship. The results indicate that despite all the efforts that have been made thus far, several barriers to female entrepreneurship remain. However, physical activity and sports have been found to aid the development of skills and abilities that may be fundamental to entrepreneurial initiatives. Formation in the context of higher education has also been identified as a fundamental tool for stimulating female entrepreneurship.Practical implicationsThis study can have a positive impact on employment opportunities for women in the sport industry.Originality/valueBesides providing ideas for future research, the results could support the development of policies to address gender equity issues and encourage women to take initiatives in sports entrepreneurship.

Nutritional Status and Intra-household Food Distribution Among Reproductive-Age-Group Women in a Slum Area of Hooghly District, West Bengal: A Mixed-Methods Approach.

IntroductionMalnutrition among women of reproductive age (WRA), especially those living in slum areas, is one of the most concerning nutritional issues because of the extreme nutritional stress they face in the form of inequitable intra-household food distribution (IHFD). This study aimed to assess the nutritional status (NS) and its association with IHFD among reproductive-age-group women along with exploring the perspectives of the stakeholders regarding inequitable food distribution.Materials and methodsThe quantitative part of the convergent parallel mixed-methods design study was conducted among 150 WRA, selected by cluster random sampling from 15 slum areas of Hooghly District, between December 2020 and May 2021. Data were collected using a predesigned pretested schedule with anthropometric measurements. IHFD was quantified by the relative dietary energy adequacy ratio (RDEAR). Ordinal logistic regression was performed to obtain adjusted-proportional odds ratios (aPOR) for higher categories of NS (underweight: reference category). Stratified subgroup analysis was done to assess the influencers of IHFD. For the qualitative part, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight purposively selected in-laws of study participants, and the data were interpreted by thematic analysis.ResultsThe mean age of the study participants was 28.6±6.3 years. The proportion of malnutrition and inequitable IHFD (RDEAR<1) among them was 50% and 46%, respectively. Higher categories of NS were found to be significantly associated with an increase in RDEAR (aPOR=22.6, 95% CI: 2.75-185.45, p-value=0.004). Among underweight and normal NS women, those who were earning members and directly involved in food preparation/production had a greater allocation of food within their households. Physiological intolerance, incapacity of earning, and traditional customs were the most recurring themes transcribed as the barriers to equitable food distribution.ConclusionA high magnitude of malnutrition and its association with inequitable IHFD among WRA warrant policy-level support to increase women's employment opportunities and address gender-based inequities through comprehensive information education communication (IEC) techniques as well.

Does a Slim Body Shape Lead to a Stable Job? Analysis from China's Nonagricultural Labor Market

Based on the integrated data of the China General Social Survey (CGSS) from 2010 to 2017, this study observes that body shape – being overweight or underweight – matters for labor market outcomes. Body shape significantly affects the employment opportunities of Chinese employees, and this effect differs by gender and across the occupational hierarchy. Women face both a slim premium and obesity punishment effects. Slim women, those with normal and lower but not excessively lower weight, are more likely to gain long-term employment contracts in the labor market and face a significantly shorter duration of unemployment, while the opposite is observed for overweight individuals. The relationship between women's body size and employment opportunities also varies with occupational class. The obesity penalty is more pronounced in the higher level occupational class, while the slim premium is more obvious in low level occupations. Occupational segregation further magnifies the impact of body shape on women’s employment. The results suggest that the Chinese labor market is highly demanding regarding women's figures, while it is relatively tolerant of men’s figures.

Mothers’ Perspectives of Complementary Feeding Practices in an Urban Informal Settlement in Kisumu County, Western Kenya

ABSTRACTBackgroundIn informal settlements, the benefits of urban dwelling are diminished by conditions of poverty that exacerbate child undernutrition. The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) project has identified malnutrition as the leading underlying cause of death in children under 5 in the Manyatta urban informal settlement in Kisumu County, Kenya.ObjectiveThis qualitative study, nested within the CHAMPS project, aimed to understand community perspectives on complementary feeding practices in this settlement.MethodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with 20 mothers who lived in the urban informal settlement and had a child 6–23 months old. Two focus group discussions were conducted, 1 with mothers and 1 with community health workers (CHWs), to further explore themes related to complementary feeding.ResultsMothers were knowledgeable about globally recommended feeding practices, but such practices were often not implemented due to 1) the community/household water and sanitation environment, 2) the community/household food environment, 3) a lack of income and employment opportunities for women, and 4) sociocultural factors. Together, these create an environment that is not conducive to optimal child feeding practices.ConclusionsTo improve complementary feeding practices and child nutritional outcomes in Kenya's informal urban settings, both community- and individual-level factors should be addressed. Possible interventions include investment in water infrastructure and social protection programs, such as cash transfers.

Improving work and employment opportunities for women with psychosocial disabilities: an action research protocol.

In Kenya, employment rates for persons with disabilities are very low and those with psychosocial disabilities have even more dismal rates of employment. This situation has negative impact on the individual’s recovery, quality of life, mental and physical health. The systemic exclusion of persons with psychosocial disabilities in work and employment disproportionately affects women. The aim of this study is to test the feasibility of disability inclusion training to improve work and employment opportunities for women with psychosocial disabilities in Tana River County, Kenya. The study will adopt a mixed methods research design using action research approach. A sample of women with psychosocial disabilities will be trained using a researcher designed disability inclusion training manual, while employers and other stakeholders will be trained on inclusive employment. Trainings will be tailored to suit different employers and for different types of psychosocial disabilities. Interactive learning and linking sessions involving the two groups and process evaluations will be conducted at different time points to measure the impact of the intervention. Findings from this pilot study will inform future research on work and employability programs for rural women with psychosocial disabilities. The study protocol was approved by Maseno University Ethics Review Committee (MUERC/00851/20). Findings from this study will be disseminated through conference presentations and scientific publications in peer reviewed journals.