Leadership and gender: female barriers in academic administration

Abstract

The clear display of male/female behaviour patterns, has established patriarchal

structures in most modern societies. For this reason the female role has

been historically and culturally affected by strong idiosyncratic elements

that dwell right in the collective consciousness. Furthermore this situation

has encouraged the underrepresentation of women in socially valued work

positions. According to this the main purpose of this paper, is to present

some of the internal barriers and cultural variables, which female academics

face to access top positions in Higher Education (HE).The methodology of

this study uses the literature review technique to nourish theoretical and

empirical acknowledgment, in areas such as organizational behaviour, educational

leadership and gender studies. The results hollow out the analysis

of four components associated with “the social role of motherhood”, “female

double-shift”, “absence of female leadership models” and “the gender

equality euphemism”. In conclusion, a complex understanding is proposed

to attend an issue that entails the socialization of gender and cultural

constructions.