ACHIEVING GENDER EQUITY AT THE WORKPLACE: THE EXPERIENCES OF WORKING STUDENTS
OF THE ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY

ACHIEVING GENDER EQUITY AT THE WORKPLACE: THE EXPERIENCES OF WORKING STUDENTS
OF THE ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY

PROFESSOR CHRISPEN CHIOME

DR. ANDREW CHINDANYA

The study sought the experiences of working students of the Zimbabwe Open University on ways of achieving
gender equity at the workplace. The research was qualitative as the questionnaire used as a data-gathering instrument had
open-ended sections that yielded qualitative data. The research employed the descriptive survey design. In this study, a
sample of 206 working distance education students was extracted using the stratified random sample in which
departments and gender formed the strata. The study found out that gender equity at organisational level could be
achieved by creating a gender sensitive environment, attitudinal changes, gender responsive culture, and full participation
of women. Above all gender issues at organisational level must not be treated in isolation, but must include
empowerment policies, human rights and H.I.V.AIDS. The working students went further to prescribe a gender friendly
curriculum, equality before the law and unlimited access to gender sensitive information. The study among others
recommended that wide access to gender friendly literature, extensive outreach programmes targeting all sexes, women
advancement programmes and a participatory environment at the workplace must be put in place to enable gender equity
to prevail at the organisational level.

Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

2015