Women share secrets of career success in water

Abstract

What do Women need? The women interviewed came from varied racial and cultural backgrounds and they all had to overcome barriers to their success in the water sector. These were in varied degrees and included challenges of patriarchy and apartheid. The women agreed on several issues, among others that it was their qualifications which assisted them to rise in the sector. While the progressive legislation on gender equity and various gender policies in the water sector have assisted to remove barriers, these women would not have been able to take up their respective positions without the requisite qualifications. It emerged from the study that all the women had someone who supported them in their childhood and encouraged them to overcome societal barriers. Some of these enablers were teachers or family members who supported them to enhance their personal lives and to make use of whatever support they could garner at their workplaces to advance their cause in the water sector. Important also was the role of a mentor to teach these women the ropes when they entered the sector.

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