Exploring challenges faced by women in leadership positions in private Chemical organisations in the Gauteng province

Abstract

The study explores the challenges experienced by women in leadership positions in a chemical organisation in the Gauteng province of South Africa. To achieve this, a qualitative study was employed with the aid of an open-ended questionnaire. A purposive sample of eight (8) participants was used since the data collection reached saturation with those participants. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The key themes that came out of the study include gender discrimination, gender stereotyping, lack of management support, lack of mentorship, lack of peer support, and the queen bee syndrome. These are some of the challenges experienced by female employees in a chemical organisation in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The study recommends that the organisation should consider women in management positions and effectively implement employment equity policies in the workplace.