Women are underrepresented in the superintendency of public schools. They are also underrepresented in the research about superintendents. Researchers report that male superintendents have been studied in terms of demographic makeup, stresses, career paths, leadership traits, and other indicators of success. Only in recent years has there been a…

This study explored the motivators and inhibitors experienced by women pursuing high school administration positions. Additionally, it sought to identify the reasons behind the gender discrepancies to support improved hiring practices and job requirements and inform districts and states about areas for improvement to attract and retain qualified…

In this Voices: Reflective Accounts of Education essay, the author delves into the intersection of race, gender, and education, exploring the experiences and challenges faced by Black women leaders and daughters in the Academy. This piece emerges from the author's research and lived experiences. The breadth and depth of a little-addressed…

"Let it be known to all who enter here that Christ is the reason for this school, the unseen but ever-present Teacher in its classes, the model for its children, the inspiration for its staff." - Anonymous. This study explored the journeys and experiences of women leaders in Catholic secondary schools, focusing on their challenges and…

The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of Black/ African American women aspiring, serving, or having previously served in the role of Superintendent of Schools in the State of Texas. Additionally, the study investigated the perceived barriers and challenges that impacted the participant's ascent to the superintendency, and…

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of Latina school administrators in their career pathway--specifically, the influences, resources, and supports they leaned on to navigate challenges as they pursued and persisted in educational leadership roles. The study also focused on the personal, professional, and spiritual…

African American women in higher education have faced challenges as they have sought to advance to a senior-level position. The literature demonstrates that African American woman has been confronted with racial bias. African American women have been described as too emotional to hold positions of authority or senior-level positions. Some…

This qualitative exploratory study examines the perspectives of Hispanic women on barriers to educational leadership in the U.S. K-12 education. It aims to understand the challenges faced by Hispanic women in aspiring to leadership roles within the educational sector. Phenomenology, Driving Force Theory, and Intersectionality Theory form the…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how women of color college leaders born in the U.S. describe the influence of resiliency in overcoming challenges in their career. It was not known how women of color college leaders born in the U.S. describe the influence of resiliency in overcoming challenges in their career. The…

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological research study was to explore the obstacles Latinas overcame to advance into midlevel leadership at their respective higher education institutions. A literature review indicated that Latinas and Latinos are among the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States. Yet, they need to be more…

Mexico, the second-largest economy in Latin America after Brazil, has a gender gap index score of 76.4% in 2022 compared to 75.7% in 2021 and is ranked 31 out of 146 countries for 2022. Mexico has become one of the world's leaders in gender-political equality, which shows that the gender ceiling is cracking, and it is yet to see if gender parity…

Black female aspiring principals faced significant obstacles as they ascended to the principalship. This study chronicled the uncovering of the most common obstacles to representation, highlighting the importance of the findings. The problem explored in the research study was the underrepresentation of Black women as principals. The purpose of…

The purpose of this study was to develop a real-world understanding of both the challenges and achievements of Black women leaders--in their own words and from their unique perspectives as individuals and as a particular demographic based on race and gender. Sharing stories of past experiences, studying and analyzing those stories, and making…

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the experiences of female superintendents in leadership positions, focusing on the opportunities and barriers they faced on the journey to the superintendency and in the position of superintendent. Women are underrepresented in the superintendency in the female-dominated educational field.…

Historically, Black women have been excluded from higher education based on race and gender. Moreover, Black women face multiple barriers that stem from the impact of intersectionality, which has led to the underrepresentation of Black women in senior-level administrative positions within institutions of higher education. Although the experiences…