| dc.description.abstract | This phenomenological study is an examination of the
experiences of eight women from Northwestern Ontario working in
leadership positions in health care or education. The data was
obtained from two interviews with each participant. The focus of
the research is an exploration of the ways in which these women
perceive leadership and the development of leadership.
An analysis of the data reveals three main common themes:
"how a woman becomes a leader", "characteristics of a leader"
and "what a leader does". In the interviews, participants
revealed how life experience, family influence, mentors and
education had influenced the development of their leadership
abilities and personality attributes. Participants repeatedly
indicated that "caring" is a socially constructed characteristic
of leadership. They beheld sensitivity, empathy and nurturing as
caring attributes cultivated throughout their lives.
Additionally, they regarded communication skills and being
responsible as leadership characteristics developed from life
experience; and, they claimed that team work is a major element
of what a leader does.
The social construction of leadership from a woman's
perspective is still in a transition process, after having been
influenced by sex-role stereotyping for many years. Thus, to better comprehend how women's leadership identity is
constructed, a close examination of their perceptions of
leadership is required. This study shows how some women perceive
their involvement in the evolution of leadership development. | |
