Gender in School Administration: Problems of Women Administrators

Abstract

Gender reflects the biological characteristics that people are born with. Society attributes different characteristics and abilities to different genders. This study aims to determine the problems of female school principals who serve as school principals. A qualitative research was conducted in the study using a positive case study design. 12 out of a total of 26 female school principals serving in the 2024-2025 academic year in Tokat province were determined using the purposeful easy-to-access sampling method. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher. In the study consisting of gender-based problems of female administrators, difficulties and advantages of being a female administrator and suggestions, it was determined that women mostly experience problems related to communication and long working hours. It was observed that most women are stuck between home and management, have problems due to long working hours and male teachers avoiding communication. The general expectation that the manager or leader will be a man and the traditional perspective on women may prevent women from becoming managers. More encouragement of women to take part in school administration, financial support of administrators, rewarding successful administrators, making arrangements regarding working hours are important suggestions for women to become school administrators.

Keywords

• Gender
• education
• school administration
• women leaders female administrators problems

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