Challenges And Coping Strategies Of Female Leadership

Females in higher education management in Ghana have over the years made significant contributions and gains within the sector.Notwithstanding these achievements,there exit ample evidence within the Colleges of Education that suggest they are found in lower grades and less secure positions than their male counterparts.There are practices of injustice that appear to have been met with complacency rather than commitments to bring about the change especially in the way women leaders are treated.The main aims of this study were to: explore the current status of women and the adversities/difficulties they encounter in leadership,to determine the factors that account for such adversities/difficulties in their leadership experience,and to obtain a broad base of opinions and ideas that have helped them cope and continue to functions as women leaders.The study employed a qualitative approach using the case study design and covered educational policy and administration by examining organizational and structural changes in addition to individual growth and development.An online semistructured interview was conducted with 12 women leaders who were all members of the academic boards of Our Lady of Apostles College of Education and Westly Colleges of Education to obtain the necessary data,providing a unique opportunity to examine the experiences of these women both faculty members and administrators and to understand the ongoing challenges of women within the study context.The results of the study highlight key themes including discrimination,prejudice and stereotyping,family and work-life balance,lack of strong networks,attitudes of other colleague women as well as the conceptualizations of gender and leadership at the workplace as common difficulties are faced with and which they believe were as a result of cultural/traditional,institutional and personal factors.Furthermore,the study offers important insights to assist other women in the colleges of education in management and faculty seeking access to leadership positions to learn from the coping mechanisms these women employed to achieve effectiveness.