Abstract
In 2004, South Africa celebrated 10 years of freedom, and in August women have celebrated 48 years of women’s activism. South African women have come a long way and yet the battle for women empowerment still rages on. Women have not yet fully achieved equal status. In fact, the struggle for women leadership has intensified in a sense that nowadays-influential positions are also associated with sensitive perks and career patching, which means women are more than ever seen as a threat in relation to the occupation of these positions.
Women are faced with challenges when they have to apply for or be placed in management in schools. This study seeks to explain why the number of female principals at Ekurhuleni East High Schools is less than of male collegues.
Considering the fact that the ratio between female educators and male educators favours women, it is questionable why management of schools is assigned to males. This brings us to the challenges women have to deal with when they are supposed to be selected for management positions. Ozga (1993:4) supports the above statement and argue that women form the majority of the work force in education: yet they are underrepresented in its management.
Women under-representation is and can be attributed to the treatment women receive because of their gender. Thus, the major barrier to selection and recruitment of women is gender. Women are seen as less than and different from men. Interestingly, gender has somehow become synonymous with women. The teaching profession in South Africa has long been characterized by unequal treatment of women in education.
Dr. P.J. du Plessis