KOTA KINABALU: Cultural and structural factors pose a barrier to women’s advancement in their pursuit for managerial careers.
According to Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun during the closing ceremony and certificate presentation of women directors on boarding training programme held at 1Borneo near here, the principle of inequality between men and women perpetuates itself because it is internalised through social perception.
“Thus, changing the perception is not an easy task, as stereotypes and negative assumptions towards women are complex factors that have their roots in both historical and cultural processes,” she said.
Attempts to change perceptions of women should first start at home where mothers provide their children with opportunities and education irrespective of their gender, she said.
“We are fortunate that our government provides education equally to both genders. Now, 65 per cent of graduates comprise of women. They are prepared to become a board of directors as they are equipped with the knowledge,” she said.
She also called for an elimination of structural and institutional barriers and urged for the raising of awareness amongst members of the recruitment board of the importance of hiring an adequate number of women into management positions.
At the same time, she also urged for women managers to be allowed more access to management training.
“Develop a more structured approach to assessing individual training to ensure that women managers get regular and appropriate training and especially to give them experience in areas to which they have little access. Implement training programmes that are gender sensitive.
“This can be done by taking into consideration the timing and location of courses to minimise interference with the women’s domestic responsibilities,” she said.
Azizah also emphasised that women employees must be assisted so that they can effectively juggle between their family and work responsibilities.
“New work structures and ‘family-friendly’ policies should be introduced. This includes child centres at the workplace, flexible hours, job sharing and parental leave,” she said.
She also said that men should be encouraged to avail themselves of the benefits of parental leave in order to avoid the perception that women are troublesome employees and to assist in bringing about work culture which positively values family experience and responsibilities.
At the same time, she also said that girls should be encouraged to develop interest, ambitions and appropriate skills through a careful design of the school and training curriculum, as well as ensuring that they receive appropriate and encouraging career advice.
A total of 39 women managers and directors took part in the event yesterday.