The 37th edition of the International Women’s Day invites us to reflect on gender equality as a springboard to a better tomorrow.

This theme is very timely when we know how difficult it is to talk about gender equality in an economic and socio-cultural context that is predominantly driven by men. In terms of leadership, we naturally refer to high-level management or circles of influence where major decisions are made that lead a community or a system.

If we take the case of Cameroonian companies, a recent joint study conducted by the International Labor Office and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Commission of the Cameroonian Employers’ Association (GICAM) shows that only 13.7% of women have access to high management levels, such as management positions or positions on the board of directors. While the same study reveals that the proportion of women in top management positions is much higher in SMEs than in large companies.

However, it is the large companies that have the most influence in the business environment due to their economic power, their workforce, and their position in the economic arena.

On the other hand, and paradoxically, the study revealed that the gender mix in companies contributes to the improvement of the social climate and even economic performance: an increase of only 1% of the female gender in companies leads to an increase of up to 0.23% in the general performance of organizations. So how can we explain this disparity between the low representation of women in strategic positions and the convincing benefits of their contributions compared to men? Several reasons are mentioned:

• The reasons endogenous to the female gender include the limiting morphological constitution that does not allow them to expend as much energy as men in certain sectors of activity (construction, etc.).
• The status of wife and/or mother is prioritized over a professional career.
• Self-imposed social limitations by some women who feel guilty about giving a lot of importance to their career.
• The low representation of women in some innovative sectors due to the reduction of trained and experienced candidates.

Besides that, some exogenous factors can be listed as :

• The accessibility of young girls from the family unit in areas of activity considered too advanced for them by their supervisors.
• The current social dictate which by a permanent and relayed speech, positions the woman in the social straitjacket. The professional straitjacket being for her only accessory.
• The pressure of immoral practices such as the right of covetousness to have access to opportunities or sexual and moral harassment in the workplace.

As a perspective for the evolution of this unfavorable situation for women in Cameroon, they are invited to leave the postulate of victim to position themselves as solution providers. This is to change the public perception of the role and capacities of women. This empowerment of their destiny requires a self-requirement of professionalism, rigor in the delivery of deliverables, an appropriation of academics and professionals of innovative sectors, and finally a renewal of mentalities on the place of women in society.