MANAGERS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS GENDER HIRING STAFF FOR A CHILD-CARE ORGANIZATION

• Main Authors: Raminta Bardauskienė, Erika Ratkevičiūtė
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mykolas Romeris University 2018-05-01
• Series: Socialinis Darbas
• Subjects: Gender; gender equality; segregation managers’ attitude; child-care organization
• Online Access: https://www3.mruni.eu/ojs/social-work/article/view/4777

The purpose of this article is to investigate the attitudes of the managers towards gender hiring staff for a chidl-care institution. The subject of the research is the attitude of the managers towards gender. The scientific problem is formulated on the question: What are the manager’s attitudes towards gender ghiring staff for a chidl-care institution? A qualitative research strategy was used. The data were collected through semi structured interview. The results are analysed using the content analysis method. The study was carried out in 2015-2016 at the 5 units of the child-care organization. By applying a criterion sampling 5 managers who have not less than 3 years of senior management experience were chosen to participate in the study. One participant in has acquired a social work qualification and the majority of participant has had considerable work experience in the field of social work (the average of the work at the child-care organization was 13 years). The age of the participants is from 35 to 55 years. The average length of the interview is 40 minutes. The results indicate that the high profile of gender-based attitudes of managers are manifested through the traditional approach to men and women and defines the criteria used to shape the workforce in a child care organization. Participants in the study confirm the stereotypical attitude towards the emerging traditions of gender roles as self-existent, distinguishing the nature of men and women, for which one or another gender “naturally” is better able to realize themselves in different spheres of professional activity. A female employee is still traditionally seen as a guardian of the children, so men in this area are treated as incapable, too weak to handle their duties. On the other hand, men who do not conform to the dominant masculine model in society are also not desirable in the child-care organization. Those men who work as social workers tend to take leadership positions. Women are accused of not wanting to reach the manager’s position, although the real reason is “glass ceilings” that prevent women’s career. Selection of people for a manager’s position is left to the policy of drift, as if gender possibilities were completely equal. Meanwhile, the phenomenon of “glass escalators” appears in feminized professional areas as men gain an advantage, because they are more valued and have better career opportunities. The results show that managers’ attitudes towards gender (though not necessarily conscious) support gender inequality in the labor market.