Gender roles in youth organisations

Abstract

The significant role youth organisations play in the life of young people has been emphasised by authors like Campbell Dunnette (1968), and Coleman & Hendrey (1968). Running these organisations is both demanding and challenging. This study tries to explore this area with special reference to the level of female and male participation in the decision-making bodies of five local youth organisation. This study analyses bases its observation of gender roles in youth organisation on the outcome of a questionnaire and in-depth interviews. From the data collected it emerges that active female participation is less than that of men. Some of the responses seem to indicated persistent gender discrimination and expectations of the traditional stereotype roles. As a final consideration, this study also evaluates the role of the youth worker as an educator who empowers young people to strive for gender equality in the social arena