Gender factors affecting female labour input in the Nigerian University system

Abstract

The concentration of female university staff at lower levels of the university labour force is compounded by their gender attributes. This paper therefore sought to identify and examine the gender variables which mostly affect women‟s job performance in the Nigerian university system. This was done with a view to create awareness on the need to break the „glass ceiling‟ which currently exists in the Nigerian University labour force. Questionnaires were administered on 730 females grouped into academic, administrative and technical staff using the purposive sampling method. Twelve randomly selected Federal universities from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria were used for the study. The study revealed that child rearing practices, domestic responsibilities and marriage are the gender factors which mostly impact on the job performance of females. Female‟s sexuality which includes menstrual cycle, menopause and the mythic emotionality associated with women and which is used as grounds for control and exclusion do not impact on their job. The study concluded that changes in policy and academic culture are essential in building a gender-friendly university work environment.

Keywords: Gender factors, female, labour input, university, Nigeria.