Experiencing the Public Sector: Pacific Women's Perspective

Abstract

This report contains the findings arising from a short study undertaken to examine the experiences of women in the public sector across the Pacific. It is part of a much larger initiative aimed at improving the public sector capacity of Pacific Islands’ countries. One hundred women from six Pacific Island counties: Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu were invited to participate, 40 responded. All were senior or middle level public sector employees. Each respondent completed a short questionnaire concerning their: educational background; work history/career path; experiences in the workplace; domestic responsibilities and work/life balance; factors related to success; and leadership aspirations. Of the 40 respondents, 19 worked in central agencies (Treasury, Finance and Planning, Prime Minister and Cabinet, National Executive Council, and Justice) while 21 worked in line agencies. The youngest respondent was 26 years and the oldest was 59, with an even spread in between. Twenty three of the respondents were currently married, nine were divorced or separated, four were widowed and four were single. All but four (36/40) had children, and all but one (39/40) said they had additional dependents, with three quarters of the women surveyed (29/40) having more than 5 dependents. Every woman who participated was well educated and well qualified. They were all at least bi-lingual (often multi-lingual), well travelled and have attended international workshops, conferences, and short courses in order to enhance their skills and knowledge base. Some have travelled to Europe, Asia and the sub-continent in their capacities as senior public servants. In short they are bright, articulate and have a good understanding of what is happening around them (at work and at home). The real value of this study lies in the insight it provides into the working and home lives of female public sector employees across the Pacific. It provides a solid starting point in understanding just how women experience their workplaces and domestic situations and the challenges they face on a day to day basis. It paints a fairly grim picture of life in the public sector. For example the study reveals that female public sector employees are exposed to a range of abuses in the workplace, including verbal abuse, threats of violence and sexual harassment, as well as harassment from the wives and girlfriends of male colleagues. Many also grapple with political interference. The study also revealed women experience day to day difficulty at the interface of home and work. Travelling to and from work safely is an issue, and most find they are working two jobs – doing their paid work and maintaining their households with little domestic assistance. Many women reported that they are closely scrutinised by husbands and boyfriends and that they have experienced domestic violence because of the difficulties involved in balancing work and domestic responsibilities. Certainly being well educated and having good jobs had not protected this cohort of women from domestic violence. On a more positive note the study identifies factors that have contributed towards women’s success in the public sector. When asked about the most significant factors in their success, women listed: education, hard work, persistence and perseverance, supportive bosses and families, and Christian faith. In view of this and the other findings contained within this report we offer suggestions for further research. Entry points for donor engagement also emerge out of the key findings. These are outlined in the recommendations that follow. Show more