The Struggle for Women’s Representation in Leadership Positions in South Africa

Corporate South Africa faces significant underrepresentation, particularly when it comes to women in leadership positions. Despite initiatives aimed at advancing women’s rights and gender equality, the country’s business sector still lags behind. Women comprise approximately 51% of the population but only hold a small fraction of executive and managerial roles. The scarcity of women in boardrooms, C-suites and other decision-making positions is hindering the country’s economic growth as there is a lack of diversity, perspectives and experiences.

According to Just Share, women comprise 46% of the economically active population in South Africa, but hold on average 35% of board positions and only 25% of executive roles in the JSE Top 40 companies.

This underrepresentation of women in leadership positions can be attributed to a multitude of factors across various disciplines. These include:

Harmful Stereotypes

The stereotypical characteristics often associated with women hinder their progress towards higher positions in the workplace. These characteristics often include being emotional, being a homemaker, being “soft” and unable to handle tough situations. These stereotypical traits are considered as a contrast to the traits of a good leader and lead to the questioning of women as suitable leaders. In a lot of people’s eyes, women leaders are the epitome of a crumbling business.

Racism

Thirty years into democracy, South Africa’s largest population group – Black women – remain vulnerable to systemic racism and discriminatory practices. A significant challenge they face is the perpetuation of Eurocentric beauty standards, which dictate what is deemed “acceptable” in terms of hair, body, and complexion. This pervasive bias often plays out in the workplace, where black women are unfairly judged and marginalized for not conforming to unrealistic ideals, leading to a loss of opportunities.

Cultural and/or religious beliefs

Cultural and religious beliefs have historically played a significant role in limiting women’s access to leadership positions. In some societies, patriarchal norms and traditional gender roles have perpetuated the notion that women are less capable or less intelligent than men, making it difficult for them to be taken seriously as leaders. Additionally, certain religious interpretations have been used to justify restrictions on women’s participation in public life, including leadership positions. For instance, some Christian denominations, Islamic interpretations, Orthodox Jewish communities, and Hindu texts have been cited to limit women’s roles in leadership. These deeply ingrained beliefs and attitudes have contributed to the persistent underrepresentation of women in leadership positions, highlighting the need for a joint effort to challenge and change these attitudes.

Misogyny

The pervasive culture of misogyny in some South African industries can have a profound impact on women’s career advancement and overall well-being. When women are subjected to discriminatory attitudes and biased practices, it can lead to a lack of confidence and self-doubt, making it even more difficult for them to break through the glass ceiling. Furthermore, misogyny can also lead to a lack of representation and voice for women in leadership positions, perpetuating a cycle of exclusion and marginalization. The carrying out of misogyny to women might discourage them from entering into these spaces. Ultimately, addressing misogyny is crucial to creating a more inclusive and equitable environment for women in leadership positions in South Africa.

The lack of representation of women in leadership positions has a ripple effect where young women and girl children do not see themselves in these environments and therefore deem them places not for people like them. Economic growth of the country is then limited because people who might have been exceptional leaders and founded exceptional businesses, never get to realize their potential and true skills.

Although there is no single theory that directly explains the correlation between women leaders and stock market perfomance, there is no doubt that the different perspectives brought by women will propel companies and economies forward.

The issue of underrepresentation of women in leadership positions goes beyond JSE listed companies. Every year, the people of the country are shown how the country is crumbling under the hands of leaders, most of which are men, but there has been no joint effort to put more female leaders and have more female led parties in parliament. A gender proportional government, along with other factors such as more youth inclusivity might be just what the country needs to thrive.

In conclusion, women leaders bring unique perspectives and approaches to problem solving, which can lead to more innovative and effective solutions. Due to the things that women may face on a daily basis, the claims that women are weak are really just baseless accusations founded on the principles of misogyny.

According to the World Economic Forum, accelerating progress towards gender parity will not only improve outcomes for women and girls but benefit economies and societies more widely, reviving growth, boosting innovation and increasing resilience.