The Gendered Workplace in Kenya: A Comparative Analysis of Agricultural Technicians in Public and Parastatal Sector Work Settings

Workplace conditions for male and female agricultural technicians in public and parastatal sector work settings in Kenya are analyzed to test the hypothesis that, relative to the public sector, the potential for differential treatment based on gender is likely to be higher in the parastatal sector. Compared to those in the public sector, female technicians in the parastatal sector perceived greater workplace disadvantages relative to their male counterparts. These can be explained in terms of fewer formal rules and regulations in the sector to check differential treatment of employees. The results demonstrate the importance of the social organization of the workplace in understanding gender inequalities in employment settings. Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review (EASSRR) Vol. XVII No. 1 January 2001, pp. 53-7