Factors militating against the participation of women artisans in male dominated occupation

Abstract

Job opportunities for women in technical fields have remained relatively unexplored. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore and identify the factors considered by women technicians and artisans to be militating against their participation in technical and engineering related occupations which are male dominated. The instruments used in the study were questionnaires and interview schedules. The respondents comprised women employees in technical organisations, self employed women technicians and artisans, female trainees enrolled in technical programmes in polytechnics and technical institutes and women apprentices in local garages and workshops. In all 186 respondents were purposively selected from three metropolitan cities of Ghana, namely Accra, Kumasi, and Sekondi- Takoradi. Data collected were analysed using frequencies, t-test and means. The main factors found to explain the exclusion of women in technical careers include (i) social and organisation barriers, (ii) lack of opportunities for staff development and self development, and (iii) family commitment. The study also revealed that young women are now penetrating into the male dominated technical jobs and they derived job satisfaction from their chosen occupations despite the difficulties posed by the factors they identified. Based on the findings from the study, it was concluded that both sexes (men and women) can equally participate in technical and engineering related occupations, provided equal motivations and opportunities for participation are made available to both sexes. Consequently, a recommendation was made that women affirmative actions need to be stepped up to include job placement in technical and engineering careers.