An examination of factors affecting career advancement of women into senior positions in selected parastatals in Lesotho

Abstract

Presently, in Lesotho women form a larger percentage of the workforce as compared to the previous years. Even though, there seems to be several factors, which affect their progress up the corporate ladder, one of them being the glass ceiling. The purpose of this research was to examine factors that affect career advancement of women into senior positions in selected parastatals in Lesotho; to determine the cause of under-representation of women in top management positions and their reluctance to advance their careers once they make it to the top; to identify if what women feel would help to improve their career advancement from their perspective; to determine whether women who are mentored face the same challenges as those who are not mentored; to identify whether selected biographical characteristics such as age and marital status play a role in career advancement; to propose a career advancement strategy for women in Lesotho’s public service; and to determine what challenges women in senior positions face. To accomplish this aim, questionnaires were distributed to women in senior positions at selected parastatals in Lesotho. In addition, a method to conduct the research was carefully and logically planned and then implemented. A comprehensive literature study was undertaken in order to obtain views from different authors concerning the phenomenon. Once the questionnaires were collected and the data analysed, the researcher was able to draw conclusions and propose a range of recommendations based on the findings in order to assist women and organisations. The findings revealed that existing laws and legislation in Lesotho have contributed massively towards the promotion of women’s rights. Conversely, quite a number of women in their organisations still face significant challenges in terms of career advancement as a result of the existing glass ceiling phenomenon and other factors, which are discussed in this study.