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Abstract:
This study attempted to: investigate the criteria used in electing individuals to leadership positions within UASU, find out women's capabilities in performing leadership roles in trade unions, identify societal perceptions towards women and leadership roles in the public realm and find out what efforts UASU is making towards enhancing integration and participation of women in the union's activities. A descriptive survey method was used. A total of 200 respondents drawn from Kenyan public universities took part in the study. The sample comprised of 169 male university academic staff, 31 female university academic staff selected using equal proportionate stratified sampling design. Purposive sampling was employed in selecting members of the UASU executive committee. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedule. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in data Analyses. To test whether there was any difference between the university male and female teaching staff responses regarding moods, commitment, acceptability and efficiency, a One Way Analysis of Variance was chosen in order to prove or disprove the Patriarchy Theory. The study revealed that: women are viewed as equally efficient and even more committed compared to their male counterparts; the widespread view and opinion is that they are moody; a majority view women as not being ambitious; 33% of the respondents feel that women in leadership positions face stiffer challenges as opposed to their male counterparts and that 62.5% of the respondents are of the opinion that women in decision-making committees are given equal hearing and participation opportunities by their male counterparts.

Keywords: equality; gender; leadership; leadership styles; perception; stereotyping.

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