PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF FEMALES IN THE HOTEL SECTOR BREAKING THROUGH THE GLASS CEILING IN SEKONDITAKORADI METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

Female  employees  in  the  hotel  industry  are  sometimes  unable  to compete with their male counterparts on an equal level due to several visible and  invisible  barriers  and  challenges  such  as  the  demands  of  marriage  and motherhood, gender and sex discrimination, sexual harassment among others. In  Ghana  very  little  is  known  about  the  problems  females  face  in  the  hotel industry  and  how  these  create  challenges  for  them.  This  study  therefore explores prospects and challenges that prevent females working in hotels from advancing  in  the  Sekondi-Takoradi  metropolis.  Both  questionnaires  and interviews  were  used  to  collect  data  from  hotel  managers  and employees. Convenient  and  purposive  sampling  methods  were  used  to  gather  data  from the  respondents  from  20th June  to  22nd August,  2014.  A  total  of  201 respondents  participated  in  the  study,  out  of  which  196  responded  to questionnaires,  with  5  managers  being  interviewed.  Tabulations  procedures such as frequency distributions, percentages and factor analysis were used to analyse  the  quantitative  data,  while  the  qualitative  data  was  analysed manually.  The  study  revealed  challenges  associated  with  work-family conflicts  and  how  these  in  turn  reduce  the  confidence  levels  of  females’ workers  thereby  leading  to  unstable  minds  and  attitudes  toward  work. Comparatively men enjoy better chances of advancing their careers and being promoted  to  management  positions  unlike  women.  The  study  therefore recommends  the  implementation  of  affirmative  action  policies  and  quota system,  which  permit  the  allocation  of  a  certain  number  of  positions  to women. Such system ensures equal representation of women in management and leadership positions, and also guarantees equal treatment for both women and men.