A Gendered Analysis of Formal Vocational Education, Skills Development, and Self-employment in Accra, Ghana: Exploring enterprise development and outcomes of women’s self-employment in the feminized trades

Abstract

This research is an exploration of the extent to which formal vocational education in the domestic trades (catering and dressmaking) for women in Ghana leads to sustainable self-employment in the urban informal sector (UIS) in Accra. The research adopts a qualitative methodological approach using interpretive analysis to gain an in-depth understanding of the primary data collected. A case study approach is adopted to articulate emerging themes in a manner that is comprehensive and intelligible. Two conceptual frameworks are employed: firstly, the research builds on the work of McCauley et al (1995), to ascertain the developmental dimensions of VE catering job roles that provide graduates with the capabilities and opportunities needed for sustainable self-employment. Secondly, the concept of Gender Role Socialization is drawn on to ascertain the gender-specific factors that influence women’s engagement in VE and constrain women’s MSE growth. The research identified three key factors which affect VE graduates gaining employment and prospects for sustainable self-employment. They are: 1) The VE programme pursued and the presence or absence of a transformative environment of skill utilization. 2) The attainment of post-graduation specialist training or advanced certification which provide VE graduates with enhanced prospects for employment. 3) Post-graduation quality workplace development experience (QWDE). Gender-specific factors include traditional Ghanaian expectations of “womanhood”, and the streaming of women towards occupational paths that maintain their gendered role obligations within the household and family. These include ‘domestic provisioning’; male prerogative as principal decision-maker in the household; weak inheritance rights and access to property.