Social-Family Issues as Barriers to Career Advancement: The Perception of Women Employees in Kenya

A Journal article by Dr. Teresia Linge, a Lecturer at the Chandaria School of Business in USIU - AfricaThis study aimed at determining the social and family issues that women employees perceive as barriers to their career advancement to managerial positions in Kenya. The research design was cross-sectional survey was carried out among 400 women employees in the Federation of Kenya Employer’s (FKE) member organizations in Kenya. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The data was then analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques. The results show that family responsibilities and married status both have a significant relationship with the career advancement of women to managerial positions. The implications of the findings for policy makers and employers include that career advancement opportunities should be provided to all irrespective of their marital status and also, there should be the provision of flexible work arrangements to ensure fairness is accorded to women employees