A survey carried out by the National Statistics Office on behalf of the National Council of Women has shown that a good number of respondents of both sexes felt that being a woman placed a person at a disadvantage in the prospect of obtaining a decision-making or managerial post.
Most of the female respondents (76 per cent) cited long hours as an obstacle to such a prospect, while a higher percentage of women than men – 46 per cent against 38 per cent – cited age.
Another obstacle mentioned was lack of support from the partner and/or family, although more women than men identified this as a potential barrier.
The main aim of the study was to investigate perceptions and opinions among the public with regard to the participation of women in decision-making positions. NCW vice-president Grace Attard, who worked with the NSO on the study, stated that the findings were crucial to the formulation of focused strategies towards increasing the participation rates of women in decision-making positions.
The role of education in addressing stereotype attitudes was one of the key areas that required particular attention. Later on this year, the NCW will be holding a conference at which the results of the study will be discussed. Proposals towards bringing about the necessary changes will also be made.
The survey was conducted among a sample of 1,432 people aged 18 years and over and had a response rate of 83 per cent. Fifty-one per cent of respondents were women and around 50 per cent of respondents were gainfully occupied.
When asked about decision-making power in the course of their job, 33 per cent of women against 26 per cent of men responded that they exerted considerable levels. With regard to high levels of power in decision making, the percentages were somewhat reversed, with 34 per cent of men against 28 per cent of women replying in the affirmative.
Overall, men showed more interest than women in being promoted at work. On a civil-status basis, 57 per cent of married men expressed an interest in promotion against 49 per cent of married women.
Interest in work-place promotion increases with the level of education attained, but weakens with years of experience in the same line of work, and with age.
With regard to reasons for desiring a promotion, 69 per cent of respondents indicated an increase in salary, the percentage of men citing this reason being greater. Women tend to seek more job satisfaction than men, with 36 per cent of women giving this reason for wanting a promotion in contrast to 23 per cent of men.
Nearly three-quarters of the respondents believed there should be gender balance in parliament while 76 per cent believed there should be gender balance in local councils.
Significant also is the percentage with no opinion on gender balance in both institutions – 18 per cent.
Three-quarters of respondents are indifferent to whether a man or a woman becomes the next President of Malta. Nine per cent expressed a preference for a man and 15 per cent for a woman. One-fifth of the latter are of the opinion that women should be given the opportunity.