Genre et administration publique au Cameroun (1960-2020)

Abstract

This research topic entitled “Gender and public administration in Cameroon 1960- 2020ˮ, studies one of the major challenges of our time: gender equality and the integration of women in decision-making positions. It shows that the Cameroonian public administration over the years has been monopolized by men, in central and decentralized services since independence to 2020. Women occupy only 16.42% of positions in ministerial positions against 83.58% for men and from secretaries general to heads of office, they have a representation of 25.11%. . In the decentralized service none of them have been appointed as Governor, only 3.44% represented the post of Senior Divisional officer and 4.17% for sub-divisional administrative in 2020. This research raises the problem of the low representation of women in high administrative positions in the central and decentralized services of the State and aims to show the interest of involving women in decision-making in administrative functions to promote the development of Cameroon. It is a question of understanding the factors which explain the low representation of women in the Cameroonian public administration in general and in the high post of this administration in particular. This generally raises the issue of gender imbalance in Cameroonian public administration. While Cameroonian legislation (often shaped by international legal frameworks promoting gender equality) theoretically supports women’s access to public service roles, the practical reality reveals significant gaps. Legal provisions alone have proven insufficient in overcoming entrenched barriers, which include deeply rooted social norms, gender stereotypes, societal resistance to female leadership, and lingering doubts about women’s psychological or physiological capacities. This study situates these obstacles within a broader historical context, tracing their origins to precolonial patriarchal systems and colonial administrative legacies. It argues that the marginalization of women in administrative leadership is not incidental, but rather a structural issue. Ultimately, the thesis contends that enhancing women's participation in public decision-making is not only a matter of equity, but also a prerequisite for inclusive governance and sustainable national development.