ERIC Number: EJ1472113
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2578-2118
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Navigating Leadership: The Impact of Intersectional Identities on Female Leaders in Postsecondary Education
Sara A. Shaw
Journal of Research in Technical Careers, v9 n1 Article 3 p43-59 2025
This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of female leaders in postsecondary education, focusing on how intersecting identities influence their leadership and decision-making processes. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach and the theoretical framework of intersectionality, the research explored the relationships between gender, leadership, career decision-making, and other social identities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and demographic surveys with 11 female leaders. The findings revealed seven key themes: Identity Influenced Experiences, Unintentional Navigation, Institutional Bias, Playing the Game, Institutional Champion, Supportive Mechanisms for Career Advancement, and Value Alignment. These themes illustrate how gender and intersecting identities shape career decisions and leadership experiences. The study highlights the impact of identity on career progression and offers insights into the strategies women employ to navigate leadership roles. It contributes to the intersectionality and leadership literature and provides practical implications for enhancing institutional support for female leaders in postsecondary education.
Descriptors: Women Administrators, Postsecondary Education, College Administration, Intersectionality, Leadership, Decision Making, Self Concept, Career Development
UNLV Department of Teaching and Learning. 4505 South Maryland Parkway PO Box 3005, Las Vegas, NV 89154. e-mail: jrtc@unlv.edu; Web site: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jrtc/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Postsecondary Education; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A