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Women Superintendents, the Feminist Ethic, and Organizational Leadership

Winter, Carol L
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5935-3394
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent147946489356245

Abstract Details

2016, PHD, Kent State University, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration.
This qualitative study investigated the research question: How does the feminist ethic interact with the leadership of women superintendents as they address the demands of leading in the current educational climate? Data generated from six participants’ interviews, journal entries, and writing samples were used to formulate a leadership theory using Charmaz’s (2011) constructivist grounded theory approach. Data analysis resulted in ten common themes among participants, which fell into three main areas: leadership disposition, feminist approaches to leadership, and purpose in leadership. The following theory, grounded in participants’ data was developed: When authenticity, self-efficacy, and empowerment are present, women superintendents are better able to succeed in the masculinized culture of school district leadership and the current climate of educational reform. The essence of women’s leadership is manifested in the feminist ethic of care, justice, and critique, which allows leaders to bring better outcomes for the individuals and the organization under their stewardship. The theory developed may allow school boards and universities to better understand the preparation of, hiring of, and support for women in the superintendency. The recommendations of this study and theory may inform educational leaders of both sexes and add to the current body of literature on women in educational leadership in general and in the superintendency specifically. Recommendations for future research include further study regarding the efficacy of using the theory developed to grow and support the ranks of women superintendents nationally.
Catherine Hackney, PhD (Committee Chair)
Rosemary Gornik, PhD (Committee Member)
Jennifer Kulics, PhD (Committee Member)
Steve Rainey, PhD (Other)
272 p.
Education; Educational Leadership; Ethics; Gender; Gender Studies; School Administration
superintendents, women superintendents, women leaders, educational leadership, feminist ethic, feminist theory, organizational leadership, organizational culture, moral leadership, ethical leadership

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Winter, C. L. (2016). Women Superintendents, the Feminist Ethic, and Organizational Leadership [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent147946489356245

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Winter, Carol. Women Superintendents, the Feminist Ethic, and Organizational Leadership. 2016. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent147946489356245.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Winter, Carol. "Women Superintendents, the Feminist Ethic, and Organizational Leadership." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent147946489356245

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent147946489356245
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.