Why study for an MBA?

I consider myself somewhat a feminist and so it irked me when one of my male friends asked me why do females do an MBA? I was stunned by the question and my immediate natural response was the question – why do males do an MBA? Needless to say it sparked quite a debate and it got me thinking about the role of an MBA in the workplace, especially for females.

The female contingent of the MBA class. Back, left to right:Francis Meyer MBA part time course co-ordinator, Betty Hardcastle, Brigitte Roediger, from front left to right: Monique Cupido, Olivia Teek and Edith Kennedy

I asked my fellow classmates, male and female, three questions. Why are you studying an MBA, why did you choose to do it part time and what are your views on the role of men and women in the work place. Here are the results…

The reasons for doing an MBA were more or less the same between the men and women in my class and where they differed it was not due to gender bias. The female students equally wanted the success and financially stability as their male peers and the men also wanted to become better leaders, to become more empowered and to develop critical thinking skills, just like the women. However it was clear for everyone, that the MBA has an “esteemed reputation” as one of the female students, Monique Cupido phrased it.

At the University of Stellenbosch Business School there are three ways in which one can study an MBA. Full time, modular with one week block periods per term and part time deemed “the most difficult way” with evening classes.

The 2011 intake indicated that full time had 36 per cent females and the class average age was 29 years; the modular intake had fewer females at 30 per cent, but a higher average age of 35 years and part time has the fewest females at 26 per cent, with an average age of 32 years.

As one of six women in my part time class, I can understand why it is the least popular option amongst females, especially those who are married and have children as both MBA and work are continuously demanding with no timeout periods. Of the six, only one is married and one has children, a far fewer proportion than the married men or fathers in our class. However, we have all chosen to study part time because of the combination of regular contact sessions and the security of having a job.

I agree with my classmate, Monique, when she says that she hopes to get a job one day because she has an MBA and not because she is female. I believe that doing an MBA proves to others that men and women are equal – it is the qualification that is the tangible evidence and levels the playing field.

Once in this elite group of people there is less gender bias and the competition is equal amongst all. In our class, neither the men or the women feel intimidated by the opposite sex, neither do we compete with each other. We most certainly have different views on topics, but it is this diversity that stimulates debate and enhances learning opportunities.

However Jannine de Klerk, a modular MBA student, has raised the point about male managers feeling threatened when they don’t have an MBA and a woman does. I cannot help but wonder if male managers would be equally threatened if another man had an MBA. In other words, do menfeel intimidated by the degree or is it the combination of a successful woman with the degree?

Classmate Wafeeq Williams says he is looking forward to more gender diversity in the boardroom as it will bring a different tone to business dialogue. But Olivia Teek believes that she is in no worse a position in the workplace than her male counterparts and believes we create our own destiny through hard work and attitude.

Personally, I believe that there is still inequality in the workplace, less so than previous years, but women do have battles to fight when it comes to securing a job. However, having a professional degree such as an MBA creates equal status and thereafter it is every (wo) man for him and herself.

MBA blog