Gender

GENDER ISSUES AND LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVENESS IN NIGERIA LABOUR UNION ACTIVITIES: AN APPRAISAL

BY NWOBODO IJEOMA BLESSING (B.Sc, CDP, M.Sc, GNIM) E-mail: [e-mail]

ABSTRACT Organizations are realizing that, in order to adequately address human resource concerns, they must develop long-term as well as short term solutions to gender and leadership issues. This paper on the subject of Gender issues and Leadership Effectiveness attempts to appraise the issue of leadership effectiveness and gender in Nigeria union activities. It specifically looks at the current definitions of Gender, leadership and look at some common theories that relate to leadership effectiveness. It also highlighted resolutions of the 3rd NLC gender conference held in 2008. This paper will shows that there is virtually no empirical evidence that suggests that simply by being male, one has the corner on the —leadership market, especially when it concerns Union activities. And it is my hope that this paper leads to more indepth study on gender issues and leadership effectiveness in employment relations.

KEYWORDS: Effectiveness.

Gender,

Organization,

Leadership,

Trade

union,

INTRODUCTION Women the world over share a common feature; they are marginalized in the sphere of public life. Although they account for roughly one half of every country‘s population, women are yet to be proportionately represented in public life anywhere

1

in the world Nwankwo (1996:1). Awareness of gender as a central feature of all aspects of everyday life and society has become more and more widespread. Every leader has a different style and a different approach to the job, but what about gender and leadership do men and women have different leadership styles? Gender and leadership is a subject that is concerned with two main questions: (1) what are the determinants of male/female differences in who assumes leadership positions and in leadership behaviour? and (2) How is leadership a

References: Agee, T (1996); Marginalisation of women in Nigeria. The Extent, causes and solutions. In Oruwari, Y (ed), women, Development and Nigeria Environment. Ibadan Vantage publishers. pg 26. Ajayi, Y (1998); Creating a leadership culture that can Navigate change: Perspectives and Dimensions of change Management in Management and Communication Review Vol. 1 No. 1 Feb 1998. Akinboye, S (2004); Paradox of Gender Equality in Nigerian Politics. Lagos Concept Publication Limited. Pp.20, 29, 54, 190 Appleby, R.C (1994); Modern Business Administration. London ,ELBS Pitman publishing. Pg 190 Bass, B.M (1985); An introduction to theories and models of leadership. In R.M.Stogdill(ed.), Handbook of leadership. New York: free press. Pp 37-55. Becker, S.W, & Eagly, A.H (2004); The heroism of women and men. America Psychologist, 59, 163-178 Bohan , J.S (2002); Sex differences and/ in the self: Classic themes, feminist variations, ost modern challenges. Psychology of women quarterly, No 26, pp 74-88. Briskin, L. (2006); "Victimisation and Agency: The Social Construction of Union Women 's Leadership", Industrial Relations Journal, vol. 37, No 4, July 2006, 359-378. Clark, P.F. (2000); Building More Effective Unions (Ithaca, ILR Press). Pp168-186 Golgan F, & Ledwith S (2000); Diversity, Identities and Strategies of Women Trade Union Activists‖, Gender, Work and Organization, 7, 4, 242-257. Eagly, A.H Wood & Johannesen -Schmidt, (2004); Social role theory of sex differences and Similarities: Implication for the partner preferences of women and men. In A.H Eagly, A.E Beall, & R.J Sternberg(eds). The Psychology of Gender. Pp 269-295, New York: Guilford. Eagly, A. and B. Johnson (1990); ―Gender and Leadership Style: A Meta Analysis‖, Psychological Bulletin vol. 108, No 2. Pp 233-256. Hannan, (2001); Gender mainstreaming strategy for promoting Gender Equality Women Watch. Office of the special Adviser on Gender issues and Advancement of women. Available at http: //www.un.org/women watch/osagi/ pdf /factsheet. Hare-Mustin,R.T., & Marecek, J. (1990); On making a difference. In R.T. Hare-Mustin & J. Marecek (eds.), Making a difference: Psychology and the construction of gender. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.Pp. 1-21 28 International Labour Office, (1996); World labour report. Geneva. Kanter, R.M (1977); Men and women in the corporation, New York: Basic Books. Nkwankwo, Nkechi (1996); Gender Equality in Nigerian Politics, Lagos, Deutchetz Publishers.pg 1 Oakley (1972); Sex, Gender and society, London: Temple Smith. Obasanjo, O. (1989); Elements of development. African leadership forum; Women and society of a farm house dialogue. Abeokuta. AlF. 26 Olajumoke, C.M (1985); ―Nigerian Women and their participation in trade Union‖. Fashoyin et al, Eds (1985) Women in the Modern Sector Labour Force in Nigeria; Issues and prospect. Nigeria, University of Lagos. Omolara Folunsho (2009); The role of women in trade Unions and Nation building. Available at www.pengassan.org /the role of Women in trade union and nation building.pdf Otobo Dafe (1995); The Trade Union movement in Nigeria. Lagos: Malthouse press Ltd Parpart, J.L (1988) ;―Women, Work and Collective Labour Action in Africa‖, Roger Southal (Ed) Labour and Unions in Asia and Africa. London Macmillan Press Ltd. Rowbotham, Sheila (1992); Women In movement: Feminism and social Action New York: Rutledge, pg 12 Strickland, B.R (2000); Misassumptions, misadventures and the misuse of psychology. American Psychology, 55, 331-338 The Guardian (Nigeria) of Saturday, June 26, 1999: 17 women of substance This Day (1996); Newspaper August 18, 1996, pp.16. Ubeku, Abel (1983); Industrial Relations in Developing Counties: The case of Nigeria. London: Macmillan Press. Vickers, Jeanne. (1991); Women and the world Economic Crisis London: Zed Books Ltd. Yoder, J.D & Kahn, A.S (2003); Making gender comparisons more meaningful: A call for more attention to social context, Psychology of women quarterly vol.27. pp 281-290. INTERNET ARTICLES 29 A Paradox in Public Attitudes (2008); Men or Women: Who‘s the Better Leader? August 25, 2008. Available at www.socialtrends.org/pubs/708/ gender-leadership. Gender and leadership who has the better leadership style. Men or women? Available at www.settinggoals101.com/gender and leadership. Gender and Leadership Nigeria women empowerment- Delta State Women Empowerment - www.deltawomen.org Leadership Theories, Available at www.buzzle.com/articles/ leadership-theories. Leadership Theories- Eight major Leadership Theories. Available at www.Psychology.about.com . Nigeria Labour congress 3rd National Gender Conference. Held at Hamdala Hotel, Kaduna on the 10th and 11th march 2008. Available at www.nlcng.org/search, detal php id. The unique characteristics of women by Linda Lowen, Available at http:// www.women issues.about.com /od/in theworkplaces/womenleaders. Qualities of women leader. The unique leadership chasracteristics of women. By Linda Lowen, About.com guide. http://women issues.about.com /od/in the workplaces/a/women leaders. 30 31