GENDER DISCRIMINATION AND WOMEN EMPLOYMENT SUSTAINABILITY IN OGUN STATE

Abstract

The study examined the effect of gender discrimination on women's employment sustainability in Ogun State. The descriptive research design was adopted while a self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Simple random sampling technique was used to sample 196 women's opinion across the study area, while mean, standard deviation and regression analysis were adopted to analyse the data. The study revealed that gender discrimination occurs in different dimensions looking down of women's ability in spite of appealing qualification, sexist comments and harassment, exclusion of women in senior administrative cadre, among others, in the employment process and workplace. It also revealed that religious doctrine, cultural beliefs and values, the perception that some professions are inappropriate for women, among others, fueled gender discrimination against women's employability and sustainability in Ogun state. The study disclosed that discrimination created hostile work environment and caused psychological and physical stress that decreases employee morale, job satisfaction and productivity among women. The study recommended among others that governments should strengthen the implementation and enforcement of affirmative action and gender quotas, as well as conduct frequent reviews of anti-discrimination laws.