“ Women are more encouraged to apply ”

The disconnect between the gender equality agenda and young women’s employment practices in urban Sierra Leone

Bibliographic Data

ID24225006
AuthorsElena Samonova (0000-0001-6078-7739, University of Bremen), Michael Davies (0000-0003-2173-7063, independent researcher, Freetown, Sierra Leone), Abu Bakarr Kamara (University of Management and Technology, Freetown, Sierra Leone), Daniel Sesay (University of Management and Technology, Freetown, Sierra Leone), Habib Turay (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Bo, Sierra Leone)
Year2026
Publication date2026-10-09
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Asian and African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9096 • E-ISSN: 1745-2538
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00219096261493420
OpenAlexW7221083448
LanguageEN
References cited38

In recent decades, increasing female labor market participation has emerged as a key political priority both nationally and internationally. However, existing studies reveal that its increase alone is insufficient to tackle deeply rooted gender-based inequalities, as a substantial share of working women globally remain concentrated in low-paid and precarious employment. This paper explores the labor market experiences of young women in urban Sierra Leone, highlighting the disconnect between national gender equality agenda and employment practices at the grassroots level and explores how deeply rooted gender norms and social practices constrain women’s opportunities and undermine their ability to secure livelihoods.

female labor market participation · gender equality policy · Gender inequality · gender norms · livelihoods · low-wage employment · precarious employment · young women · Employment, Labor, and Gender Studies · Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics · Labour Market and Migration

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Open DOIOpen Access