Bridging the Gender Gap in Oil and Gas Free Essays

1.0 Introduction For many countries, the extractive industry plays a major role as an economic driver, creating jobs, revenue and opportunities for development and growth. There are also social, economic and environmental risks associated with these industries which affect men and women differently. We will write a custom essay sample on Bridging the Gender Gap in Oil and Gas or any similar topic only for you Order Now Research by the World Bank (2009) has indicated that men have the most access to the benefits of these industries, whilst women are more likely to suffer the consequences of the social and environmental harms associated therewith. The different experiences of men and women in these industries significantly affect the ability of women to contribute to active growth and development in their respective economies. The gender gap in the oil and gas industry exists in two separate forms, the first being the top-end employment discrimination where there is a lack of females at the higher end of the employment spectrum seeing very low numbers of female engineers, and science and technology employees (European Commission, 2009). On the one hand this problem is a reflection of the imbalance of opportunities for adequate education, and on the other is what is referred to as the ‘leaky pipeline’ conundrum which describes the phenomenon of disproportionate numbers of women leaving t hese professions in each consecutive career stage in this industry. The second form of the gender gap is the very low numbers of female employees at the bottom end of the employment spectrum, that which requires lower education standards, but which may be more physically intensive. The World Bank reports (2009) that in most companies there is a female workforce of less than 10%, as these types of jobs are generally considered to be a ‘man’s job’. This is so because of the inherent physicality required in these work environments and the exposure to chemicals which presents a problem for female employees that are pregnant, meaning more time away from work and the inability to work if pregnant. This research will consider the existence of the gender gap, the justifications therefore, the effects of the gap and recommendations for closing this gap in the industry in terms of ensuring that the opportunities for growth and development, both economic and social are equa lly accessible in modern oil and gas industry. 1.1 Background to Research 1.2 Significance of Research 1.3 Research Question Research Objectives 1.3.1 Research Question What is the extent of the gender gap in the oil and gas industry? 1.3.2 Research Objectives To determine the causes of the gender gap in the oil and gas industry. To determine the effect of the gender gap in the industry. To determine a succinct set of recommendations for companies in the industry, as well as regulatory authorities in order to close this gap moving towards equal employment opportunities in this industry. 1.4 Proposed Structure 2.0 Methodology The research is primarily a conceptual research dissertation that focuses on an extensive conceptualization, contextualization, evaluation, and analysis of the key issues relating to Corporate Social Responsibility in the oil and gas industry. A conceptual research employs an analytical framework that is based on â€Å"a set of broad theories and ideas that help the researcher to identify accurately the problem(s) they seek to address, frame their research questions appropriately, and locate appropriate literature on the research subject† (Smyth, 2004: 168). In using the conceptual research method, this research combines theoretical and analytical aspects in order to achieve its aims and objectives and provide pertinent answers to the research objectives. In light of the fact that conceptual research requires access to an extensive pool of resources, there is a great reliance on diverse sources of secondary materials for analysis. In this regard, some of the sources of secondary data for the research and analysis include electronic databases such as Questia, Jstor, Emerald Insight, and Google Scholar. Of specific interest are journals that focus on gender issues in extractive industries in general as these are analogous with the oil and gas sector, but particularly those that are based on the study and evolution of the gender gap in oil and gas companies, focusing on developing nations and the Gulf countries, as these represent compounded historical gender issues. 2.1 Qualitative Research 2.2 Content Analysis 2.3 Data Collection 2.4 Reliability and Validity of Research 2.5 Research Limitations 3.0 Literature Review 3.1 The Gender Gap in Developing versus Developed Countries 3.1.1 Differences in Socio-economic problems 3.1.2 The relevance of education in enforcing this gender gap If one considers the vast differences in education priority placed in Gulf countries by comparison to African oil-economies such as Nigeria, one can see a very different picture of the relevance of education. On the one hand, Gulf countries are more likely to actively discriminate against female executive employees as there is a larger pool of adequately qualified female candidates, where in developing countries there are fewer qualified candidates, because of the lack of priority given to education and particularly education of females. 3.1.3 The difference in the nature of the Gender Gap in different socio-economic conditions 3.2 Cultural Sensitivities and Pragmatism In certain regions of oil and gas exploration, companies base their hiring discrimination on ‘cultural sensitivities’ where there is a concern for hiring women in higher-paying jobs would cause a backlash against women by their male colleagues (Musvoto, 2001). This has resulted in communities with soaring unemployment rates of up to 87% of women, despite the female demographic representing over half the local population. Particularly in developing countries, there is a trend towards rural-urban migration of the working population which often sees the breadwinner of a family leaving to work in an urban environment which perpetuates this gender gap by enforcing the role of the female as a caregiver rather than a breadwinner. In addition to these cultural sensitivities is a pragmatic approach taken by oil and gas companies which represents the bottom line in the sector in terms of cost implications. There is an argument to be made either way, with diversity goals becoming a secondary concern in favour of productivity and outcome. Male workers often have had greater educational opportunities and therefore less training and education is required, as well as less concern for factors of work-life balance. In the current economic climate, cost effective labour solutions are being of primary importance, particularly considering the growing importance of labour standards and quality of work environments which also present greater cost implications. On the other hand, studies have shown that in employment that is non-physical in nature women perform more productively and effectively, coupled with the barrier to private sector growth and development that employment discrimination breeds, increased female represent ation in the oil and gas sector may prove to be a more economical labour practice. Unfortunately however, despite evidence of long-term benefits of gender equality in the sector, companies choose short-term benefits which perpetuate and enforce this gender gap. 3.2.1 The broader socio-economic effect of the culturally enforced gender gap A theoretical expose on the broader socio-economic effects of the gender gap, e.g. continued lower education levels of women, perpetuated poverty for single parent households, lack of diversity in the workplace. 3.2.2 The benefit of a diverse workplace 3.2.3 Increased Issues with Work-Life Balance based on Gender 3.3 Leaky Pipeline Anomaly and Evolution of Policy to Mitigate the Gender Gap There are a number of potential explanations for this anomalous situation of women in high end oil and gas jobs, one of which is the role of women in many societies as the primary caregiver of their families (United Nations, 2008). Therefore, as women progress through their careers there is a likelihood of their care responsibilities, as well as job responsibilities increasing proportionately and simultaneously, and as a result they are less able to meet the demands of higher level employment. Whilst certain industry competitors have been recorded as saying that they attempt to incorporate individual career plans that take account of these increasingly personal responsibilities of employees (Al Tukmachy, 2012), the reality is a labyrinth of professional obstacles described as the ‘glass ceiling’ metaphor where female progression in the industry is limited due to concerns of increased need for consideration of factors of the work-life balance that are less present in thei r male counterparts (European Commission, 2009). As a result, women are often worked out of these executive and management positions, because companies offer incomprehensive policies that do not consider individual career and family outcomes (European Commission, 2009). 3.3.1 Current Changes in Policy Direction to Increase Diversity and Retention of Female Staff – A corporate perspective 3.3.2 International Instruments Mandating Diversity in Oil and Gas MNEs 4.0 Discussion 4.1 Analysis of the Gender Gap by Region 4.2 Analysis of the Gender Gap by Employment Level 4.2.1 Executive 4.2.2 Managerial 4.2.3 Non-managerial 4.2.4 Labour 4.2.5 Discussion 4.3 Current Examples of Corporate Policy for Non-Discriminatory Work Practices 4.3.1 Strengths 4.3.2 Weakness 4.4 Current Examples of Employment Schemes aimed at Female Inclusion in the Workplace 4.4.1 Strengths 4.4.2 Weaknesses 5.0 Conclusion The gender gap in the oil and gas sector is very current and topical debate as gender equality in the workplace is becoming a diversity goal around the world. Careful understanding of the causes and effects thereof are imperative for the management of these companies and the greater macro-economic goals of development and growth. This research therefore aims to contribute to the current understanding of these goals in order to further the studies and make concrete recommendations in order to close this gap and further growth and development in the sector. 5.1 Recommendations 5.2 Conclusion References Al Munajjed, M. (2008) Women’s Employment in Saudi Arabia: A Major Challenge, Ideation Center Insight: Booz Co Al Tukmachy, S. (2012) ‘Interview with Saba Al Tukmachy, Career Development Manager at ENOC’ Leaders of the Future Summit: Bridging the gap in oil and gas, 1 – 12 April 2012, Abu Dhabi: UAE Eftimie, A., Heller, K. Strongman, J. (2009) Gender Dimensions of the Extractive Industries. The World Bank: Extractive Industries and Development Series European Commission (2009) Women in science and technology: Creating sustainable careers. EUR 23740 EN Musvoto, A. (2001) Gender and Mining: Community. Birnam Park: African Institute of Corporate Citizenship Smyth, R. (2004) â€Å"Exploring the usefulness of a conceptual framework as a research tool: A researcher’s reflection†, Issues in Educational Research, 14(2), 167-180. United Nations (2008) Equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men. United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women. Expert Group Meeting, Geneva, 6-9 October, 2008 How to cite Bridging the Gender Gap in Oil and Gas, Essay examples

Introduction and Comparison between AT and MCI free essay sample

This paper describes the growth of the telecommunication industry, through the companies ATT and MCI. This paper examines the relationship (competition) between the two biggest telecommunication companies in America, ATT and MCI. It first explores the history of telecommunications in America and its development in the digital/technological age. It focuses on the anti-trust and fair competition laws generated in part of the telecommunication revolution. It further discusses the companies grasp for the market share. Table of Contents 1.Once upon a time, telecommunications was simple 2.The Facts of Organizational Life 3.Conclusion From the paper: after the dawning of the telecommunications age, things did in fact remain relatively simple in the United States because of the essentially monopolistic nature of the business of providing telephone service to those Americans who had it. Now, however, of course the situation is much more complicated. Not only does there exist a multiplicity of companies competing with each other for the business and dollars of the consumer, but there are also a wide range of services that were not only unheard of but undreamed of only a few decades ago. We will write a custom essay sample on Introduction and Comparison between AT and MCI or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This paper examines two of the major players in the current telecommunications game AT and MCI.

John Edwards What is Hell in Your Eyes Essay Example

John Edwards: What is Hell in Your Eyes Paper Edwards Is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath. For this average teenager in America, my definition of hell is much different than the hell of sasss Jonathan Edwards. For me hell is a term used to describe the unknown. What I am trying to say is that there is no hell, it is Just a floating concept created and used by some people. I believe that we, as humans created a place known as hell in order to scare and control other people. For example, in the past hell was a place that everyone wanted to avoid no matter where he or she was. Event thought groups of people might have been separated they still share similarities such as the Egyptian underworld and the Catholic purgatory. Both of these places used the concept of hell to alter the way people think so that they will lead to the positive actions and reactions. Also religious groups such as the Jewish do have a hell but It Is used differently than the other thoughts of hell. To most non Jewish people they hear hell and think of a place of orient and fire, but for the Jewish it is called Genomic and it is not a place of punishment but a place of reconstruction. In fact, the Jewish believe that hell is Just a way to purify the soul and is an extra step in reaching heaven. This might be translated differently because of the media and pop culture influences. We will write a custom essay sample on John Edwards: What is Hell in Your Eyes specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on John Edwards: What is Hell in Your Eyes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on John Edwards: What is Hell in Your Eyes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer With this alteration hell is drawn to be a horrible place where suffering never ends and can be avoided by making good decisions. The idea of hell is a good creation in order to help humans make good and positive choices but it is not real and is a scare tactic used y those In the past that have carried into the future. Going back to the idea I previously stated, the Idea of death mixed with the unknown can create this concept of hell because when people dont know what Is what they need some sort of float that holds them above water. In this case It the Idea of heaven and hell are the concepts holding people above the water. Anything could have been created but by creating these two places the common human will want to make good and positive choices in order to avoid the place of torment. Giving more evidence to my previous tenement, no living being has passed away and then come back from the dead to tell the living what happens. Because we do not know and are not able to know we have to create something in order to make ourselves feel better and remain sane. Jonathan Edwards had a view of hell as a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath. But I believe that hell was created as a tool that has been used by many throughout the long period of time that it has been used. John Edwards: What is Hell in Your Eyes By Matt-Degree Hell, described by Jonathan Edwards is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and people think so that they will lead to the positive actions and reactions. Also religious groups such as the Jewish do have a hell but it is used differently than the other by those in the past that have carried into the future. Going back to the idea I previously stated, the idea of death mixed with the unknown can create this concept of hell because when people dont know what is what they need some sort of float that holds them above water. In this case it the idea of heaven and hell are the

Effects of ww1 essays

Effects of ww1 essays In my opinion, the outcome of World War I harmed the domestic policies and systems of the United States. From the result of the war, there were changes dealing with politics, economics, and public opinions in the United States. Relating to politics, Wilsons goal of the United States becoming part of the League of Nations was an overall negative effect on Wilsons reputation. The constant nagging of Wilson to get the United States to join hurt his reputation by the people and the government. Although the United States did not join, the League of Nations was created but did not live up to the countries expectations. The Treaty of Versailles also a benefactor in contributing negative outcomes from the war. Wilsons struggle to get the Senate to approve the Treaty of Versailles also harmed his relations with the government. Under this agreement, the allies forced Germany to pay a huge war debt. The treaty led to growing resentment and desperation in Germany toward both the allie s and America. This sentiment eventually would lead into World War II. Relating to changes in economics dealt with money. European countries were printing more and more money to pay back their debts. Because of this increase in money production, the countries were brought into periods of inflation. This hurt the economy of the United States because the United States could not perform affairs with the allied countries because of their debts. During the war, the United States spent a lot of money because of the necessity of new weapons and machinery in fighting. Since the major industries that were needed during the war were now insufficient, many Americans were now put of jobs. These debts and unemployment rates brought about the stock market crash of 1929. After the war, disillusionment towards the government spread throughout the world. Towards the end of the war, people had developed a mistrustful opi ...

Advantages and Disadvantages of Children’s Use of Internet

Advantages and Disadvantages of Childrens Use of Internet Today children know how to use the internet, cell phone and know how to play video games. Technology is getting more advanced and children are becoming smarter. Children’s curiosity makes them want to know about everything, which is a good thing because this shows that children want to learn more with modern technology because it becomes natural to learn and understand easily. Childhood is about exploring and the internet changes the children’s learning and communication. From reading â€Å"How Technology Makes Kids Smarter†by Julie Ann, research has shown that children with access to computers early are more confident compared to the ones that used technology at a later age. The internet helps students work outside of their school and interact with others. It is important for students to have socializing skills because it helps them be more outgoing (Ann). It is important for children to spend time with their friends and family because when they need a job, the y need to learn to talk professionally, but they won’t know how. The internet can help, but it’s better to be opened minded and use the internet for a good cause. The internet is a fun environment, but it depends on how you use it because being smart and socialized is important as you get older. The internet offers fast communication, for example, emails, chat services and social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and more. The networking sites offer socializing, but it shouldn’t be necessary that people and children use the internet for socializing purposes only. Communicating through electronics continue to expand and it makes opportunities for the future.The internet is everywhere and everything is done online, for example, shopping or finding information. Many children are offering help to the elders on how to use the internet. After understanding how to use the internet, information on anything they need can be found. It is easy to access information and that has made this generation smarter than the children from the previous generations(â€Å"Are Social Networking Sites Good for Our Society?†). The internet is never-ending and is available 24/7. All data are available and it is well structured to make it easy to understand, which satisfies the child’s desire for knowledge without a teacher. Research studies have shown that children who use the internet are smarter and sociable compared to those who don’t use internet services. Technology has developed gradually since the last generation. Children are encouraged to use the internet for research because they understand it better and they can find detailed information on any topic. When they figure out how to use the search tools on the internet, they will be able to increase their knowledge on anything they want or need. Children today evolve fast and they are smarter than the children of the same age in the last generation and I believe that the internet is the cause of this. Computer are the best way to study because they are full of information and it is convenient for students (Ann). The internet has everything the children need to know, for example, homework, tutoring, educational videos, â€Å"how-to† videos and instructions on things that are difficult for us. The internet has everything that children need to know for education. If children didn’t understand something in class, they can look it up on Google. There are many reliable sites that help children learn and prepare them for tests, for example, Khanacademy.org, which is a popular website for world-class education for anyone. At school, teachers recommend students to look over specific sites to learn from. This shows that children are becoming smarter because of the internet because the internet can help with education and to help children learn what is happening around the world. All school have a computer system that is used as a research device. The inter net can answer questions for curious children, and they can search it easily.

Money Management - Portfolio of funds or ETF Essay

Money Management - Portfolio of funds or ETF - Essay Example Most of these investors turned to government bonds, certificates and private or corporate bonds from reputable firms (Madura, 2008, p.13). This trend led to the emergence of special funds which allowed small investors to pool funds and investment in a number of securities or stocks. These funds are managed by fund managers which became popular with huge companies like insurance firms and banks. However the costs of managing these funds were high and some investors looked for other options to invest. This led to the emergence of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), which allowed investors to put their money on investment funds to be traded on stock exchanges (Abner, 2010). ETF investment funds incorporate an array of assets such as stocks, commodities or bonds and trades at a price close to the net value of these combined investments. For the many years it has been in existence, EFT’s have been successful with current stock markets due to its flexibility and low risk. Table of Content s Executive Summary 1 Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Individual Analysis 3 EFT Analysis 5 Swiss Based ETFs 5 Other Managed Funds (ETFs) 6 Personal Asset Allocation 8 The art of investing requires careful planning in asset allocation since the way you allocate your assets reflects the return on your investment. For instance, if you have $ 100, 000, you should invest in a number of investment options. Time factor is one of the most crucial factors to watch out while investing. Looking at the Swiss market, we witness that the some mutual funds have been performing very well compared to some ETFs. Therefore, it not easy to conclude that mutual funds are better than ETFs or vice-versa, the most important factor is tracking these investments over a suggested period of time (Ferri, 2011). A look at ComStage Stoxx Europe 600 ETF Household goods based product we notice that this ETF tracks household goods stocks in the Swiss market. This ETF has performed well over the past two years ret urning 40.2% compared to the ComStage Stoxx Europe 600 Food & beverages ETF which returned only 24.1% as witnessed by table 4 in the appendix. In comparison to the United States of America where there is a mid cap fund that has returned over 41.87%. This performance is better than the ETF based investment option in Switzerland (Wagner, 2008). This mutual fund is known as the JB holdings fund and it has invested in different segments based on a selected benchmark. A list of investments in the JB holdings fund is shown by table 5 in the appendix. Based on the analysis of the different ETFs and funds listed above, it is difficult to choose the best investment option by solely choosing and ETF or fund based investment (Madura, 2008). The best investment decision to undertake when investing in an ETF or fund is to analyze the industry or benchmark used in implementing the fund or ETF product. Time factor is also very important since most ETFs or funds take a minimum of three years for th e investment to make marginal gains. 8 Current Investing Trends 8 References 12 Appendix 14 Introduction The art of investing is very difficult and challenging and many a times, people find it difficult to invest. Several investment options are available to potential investors interested in making profits. Investing is a risky venture and many people prefer to invest in low risk investments. As a result, many investment banks and

Asian Americans have faced from 1965 to today Essay

Asian Americans have faced from 1965 to today - Essay Example They also believe that the affirmative action has affected them in a negative way in regard to admissions to the best universities. For instance, in 1978, the United States Supreme Court gave a ruling that stated that the universities could consider the student’s race during admissions. Majority of the universities adopted this diversity policy in order to attain a student body that was more diverse. However, this diversity policy led to the admission of fewer Asian Americans into universities (Lee 33). Participation in politics is also another issue or problem faced by the Asian Americans. They have attempted to participate in politics in many ways and one of them is through donating money. However, the donations have been viewed as means through which the Asians are attempting to influence Americans politics to their benefits. For instance, in 1996, the Democratic Party was looking for funds for the reelection of President Clinton. Much later the Democrats were blamed for illegally accepting money from the foreigners; these foreigners as identified by the Congressional Republicans and the media were Asians. From this scenario, it is evident that the Asian Americans affected by racial profiling and prejudice regardless of their political affiliations. Their attempts to succeed both in the political and civic leadership are met with strong allegations that they have evil plans to dominate the world (Le 1). Another issue facing the Asians Americans is the great disparity in terms of socioeconomic status, occupation, and education among the subgroups. Some of the Asian subgroups like the Cambodians and the Laotians do not possess a high school diploma. Previously, education has been linked to high-income levels and professional skills but it is also linked to access to health care services. Majority of the Asian Americans are either poor or working for minimum wage and they have no access to