The reduced representation and tenure of women as public enterprise (PE) principals in Namibia as an emerging market and developing country are concerning (Mboti, 2014; Menges, 2020). The contributing factors are an element literature fails to address explicitly in the Namibian case. This paper, therefore, aims to consolidate evidence on whether the underrepresentation and limited tenures of female principals in Namibian PEs signal a protracted dearth of women in such positions. Methodically, a desk review is used to analyse the literature. Key findings of this paper identify the absence of top-down hands-on leadership; legal and policy implementation gaps; failure to declare gender diversity as imperative in the public sector; failure to focus on helping women gain broad line experience early on, among others, as contributing factors that have disadvantaged female principals in Namibian PEs. The challenges women face in being appointed or completing their tenure as PE principals over the years signal a protracted dearth of women in positions of PE principals in Namibia. Understanding these dynamics is relevant for enhancing Namibia’s policy efforts to curb the further proliferation of patriarchy as nuanced in the glass ceiling. This paper recommends the robust implementation of existing anti-patriarchy legislation.
The representation and tenure of female principals in public enterprises in emerging markets: A protracted dearth?