Abstract:
The study is concerned with the motivation, problems and opportunities of women professionals in paid employment. This study investigated some selected organizations to find out whether women professionals working within these organizations have equal opportunities with their male counterparts both in terms of career prospects, and motivation. It also investigates the peculiar problems women professionals encounter in paid employment and the extent to which the policies of these organization help in solving them. The instrument of data collection is questionnaires. The responses there - in are analyzed using both statistical and descriptive methods. A total of 80 women professionals in 9 different organizations were studied. They are categorized as follows: Doctors (9), Nurses (24), Architects (2), Accountants (6), Bankers (9), Teachers (19), Lawyers (2), Managers/administrators (9). Results showed that women professionals in paid employment have the same opportunities with their male counterparts. Geographica1 mobility contributes to the limited number of women professionals in top positions in paid employment. Low compensation is not responsible for the high number of women in some professional jobs such as teaching and nursing vis-a-vis their male counterparts. Women professionals are compensated equally as their male counterparts. Women professionals were found to be fewer in number at top administrative positions than their male counterparts. Recommendations on ways of improving the status of women in paid employment and of adoption of policies which will help to solve the special problems of women that constitute a hindrance for them to reach top management were brought forward in this write up.
