Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

Challenges in the Era of Globalization
Edited by Emmanuel Obuah
Is the glass ceiling cracking? Women and economic empowerment in South Africa
Tidings P. Ndhlovu, t.ndhlovu@mmu.ac.uk
Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
“In 2004, BWA asked if the glass ceiling was really cracking. That question remains relevant today. The
cracks might be bigger but the ceiling has not yet shattered” (Ms. Kunyalala Maphisa, President Elect:
Businesswomen’s Association, Foreword to BWA Census 2010: 7).
Abstract
Using the Businesswomen’s Association (BWA) censuses and the Global Gender Gap Index, this paper
seeks to examine the extent to which gender equality has taken place in South Africa. The findings
illustrate that women’s economic empowerment remains an intractable problem, particularly for top
professional women in business. Further, we explore the concepts of equity and (in) equality in an
attempt to draw insights for women’s economic empowerment in South Africa. Clearly, further research
needs to encompass all women in different strata of the economy and, among other things; indicators
need to incorporate informal work. Moreover, a more in-depth multidisciplinary analysis is required to
understand why there has been slow progress in addressing deep-seated gender and racial inequalities
and why fundamental change has not taken place despite considerable progress in girls’ basic education
and women’s political representation since democratic elections in 1994.
Introduction: The cracking glass ceiling?
Women’s Month in South Africa in August 2010 reminded us of that fateful day on 9 August 1956 when
over 20,000 women marched to the Union Building in Pretoria to protest against the 1950 Pass Laws.
They sang and chanted the now-familiar slogan Wathint’ Abafazi, wa thint’ imbokodo (roughly translated
from Zulu to: “if you strike women, you strike the rock or the grindstone”). The struggle for women’s
emancipation subsequently spilled over into the boardroom. Referring to boardroom-level struggles, the
out-going President of the Businesswomen’s Association’s (BWA), Basetsana Kumalo, noted that: “In
2008 we introduced the women in government element [to the BWA Census], and whilst the public sector
surpassed our expectations, there are still challenges and concerns when it comes to the remuneration of
women in the public sector compared to their male counterparts” (as cited in Mzilethi, 2010: 1). Indeed a
report by Statistics South Africa (2009) shows that in spite of women comprising 51 per cent of the
working population, they only make up 44.6 per cent of the employed (also see BWA, 2010: 11, 21). Men
often earn up to 65 per cent more than women for similar work, while women with children are more
likely to be affected by this gender pay gap. In fact, the “biggest gap between the sexes, the report found,
was among skilled agriculture employees; however, this should be interpreted with caution because of the
small numbers involved” (Vena, 2010: 1).
Undoubtedly, government legislation on race and gender, and Broad-Based Black Economic
Empowerment (B-BEE), have helped to re-shape the apartheid landscape since democratic elections
which brought Nelson Mandela and the ANC into office in 1994. However, Ms. Mayende-Sibiya, the
then Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, sought support for a Gender Equity Bill
315