Perceptions of barriers to women's upward mobility in the Butterworth District Education Department

The aim of the present study explores barriers to women educators’ upward mobility in the Department of Education, using the Butterworth Education District as the area of study. Women as human beings, too, have a valid case regarding recognition of their legitimate aspirations because in striving for them, they are exercising their rights similar to their male counterpart. It must also be understood that the same legislative prescripts apply to both male and female educators and the necessary intellectual and physical capacity plus skills commitment and perseverance are understood to be important criteria for promotions. The question of perception of barriers to upward mobility of women in the education department and the wider public sector in South Africa is topical and continues to engender research and policy guidelines. However, conclusive findings and solutions are far from being realised. Empirical research and other scholarly writings posit that despite a suite of legislation and policy guidelines introduced in South Africa since 1994, women continue to encounter barriers in their effort to move up their career ladder. It is argued women are under-represented in management positions in comparison to men all over the world. Unequal representation of women in public sectors, nationally, provincially and locally has illustrated the need for gender equity and mainstreaming in senior management. In research done for the Department of Education in South Africa it was also found that although the teaching environment is made up of both men and women, men in management are acceptable, but women in management experience problems not only from male employees, but from female employees as well