scholarly journals Women in veterinary leadership positions: their motivations and enablers

2019 ◽  
Vol 186 (5) ◽  
pp. 155-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Tindell ◽  
Renate Weller ◽  
Tierney Kinnison

BackgroundDespite now having higher numbers of women than men within the veterinary profession, there are substantially less women in leadership roles. Research, primarily in other professions, has focussed on barriers to leadership and sometimes overlooked facilitators and motivators. This study aimed to explore the motivating factors for female veterinary surgeons to become leaders, to identify potential strategies to increase female leadership.MethodsSixteen female leaders from academia, professional bodies, industry and clinical practice took part in semistructured interviews. Interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis approach.ResultsTwo themes were developed: ‘Potential for positive influence’ and ‘Requirement of external enablers’. Participants wanted to influence change for themselves, including work-life balance and developing their role, and for others through a position of influence. They wanted to inspire and mentor the future generation of leaders. External enablers allowed this transition to occur, including formal mentors and informal support systems, opportunities for growth and increased responsibility, and leadership training.ConclusionPotential strategies to increase female leaders include the promotion of female role models, increasing awareness of training and increasing work flexibility. The profession could improve its support of the next generation of leaders and celebrate the successful female leaders we already possess.

Author(s):  
Robert Vella

The main objective of this research is to investigate the perceptions and experiences of senior female educational leaders in Malta, where senior leaders are considered as those leaders from the Minister of Education to leaders at directorial level. Although Malta’s laws relating to gender equity are in line with those of the European Union, traditional beliefs and values, including those shaped by the Catholic Church, mean that in many areas of social life, women and girls continue to be perceived as inferior. The study is framed within a constructivist and interpretivist paradigm and takes a narrative approach. Throughout 2017 to 2018, in-depth interview data was collected from eight senior female leaders in the Maltese education department. Data used from an ongoing doctoral study was analysed manually using a hybrid method in order to establish the relevant themes. The findings from the study demonstrated that women in educational leadership roles in Malta have to face challenges specific to their being female. The study recommends, among other things, real family friendly measures by organisations, organised professional development programmes for women in leadership and for those aspiring to be leaders, and training programmes focused on how to build healthy collegial relationships.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyson Byrne ◽  
Ingrid C. Chadwick ◽  
Amanda J. Hancock

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine female leaders' attitudes toward demand-side strategies to close the gender-leadership gap and discuss implications for organizations.Design/methodology/approachThis article describes the process of knowledge co-creation that took place using an engaged scholarship epistemology over 23 interviews with North American women in senior leadership roles.FindingsFive key themes related to women leaders' attitudes toward demand-side strategies are discussed. Some felt uncertain or opposed toward these strategies, whereas others supported them. Support for these strategies was dependent on perceptions of backlash regarding the implementation of these strategies and the participants' career stage. Finally, participants acknowledged that demand-side strategies are insufficient in isolation and require additional organizational supports.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings enhance our understanding and provide theoretical refinement of the mechanisms that drive female leaders' reactions to demand-side strategies to close the gender-leadership gap.Practical implicationsParticipants advocated for certain practices to be considered when organizations contemplate the adoption of demand-side strategies. Importantly, participants advocated that the implementation of demand-side strategies would be insufficient unless organizations encourage greater dialogue regarding the gender-leadership gap, that top management support more gender inclusive leadership, and that male colleagues act as allies for women in leadership.Originality/valueThis article extends past research and theory by integrating the pragmatic perspectives of successful female leaders with previous empirical evidence to illustrate different reactions to demand-side strategies and ways for organizations to manage those in their efforts to close the gender-leadership gap.


1994 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 1307-1312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth S. Shultz

Attributions for the success and failure of men and women in leadership positions were examined as a function of the subjects' attitudes towards women in leadership roles (as measured by the Women As Managers Scale of Peters, Terborg, and Taynor. 80 men and 80 women were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in which a leader's performance was described, i.e., male leader—success, male leader—failure, female leader—success, female leader—failure. Subjects then rated the importance they believed each of four factors had in determining the leader's performance (ability, effort, task difficulty, and luck). A general reluctance of subjects to make external attributions and to distinguish between male and female leaders was found.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-68
Author(s):  
Courtney Cook

In the study on which this article is based, I examine the correlation between the number of Black girls in leadership programs and the number of Black female leaders in nonprofit organizations. I carried out research on Black girl leadership to understand the shortcomings of programs meant to teach Black girls appropriate leadership skills and I conducted interviews with female leaders to determine the hurdles faced by Black women trying to obtain leadership roles in the nonprofit sector. My findings show that there is a disconnect between Black and white women in leadership roles and that impediments for Black women affect leadership prospects for Black girls. This article is a call to create an activist model that supports the professional trajectories of Black girls.


Hawwa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-50
Author(s):  
Rana al-Mutawa

Abstract This research paper investigates female perceptions of female leadership in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where, particularly recently, state feminism has supported women’s occupation of leadership positions. It thus explores how state feminism’s portrayal of the ideal woman in leadership has impacted Emirati women’s perceptions of female leaders. A survey comprising 350 female Emirati students was undertaken, and results were supported by interviews. Findings suggest that although 93 percent of respondents “wanted to” or “probably wanted to” be leaders, they nevertheless endorsed “sexist” stereotypes and legitimizing myths. These contradictions are due, most likely, to ambivalent messages disseminated by the state and by society at large about female leaders. This research postulates that, while women have gained more agency in the public sphere through occupying leadership positions, their own perceptions and portrayals of acceptable gender roles are complex and ambivalent.


Pain Medicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina L Doshi ◽  
Hira C Richter ◽  
Mariam Salisu ◽  
Christelle Samen

AbstractObjectiveTo quantify the representation of women trainees and faculty and to explore associations between them at Pain Medicine (PM) fellowship programs in the United States.SettingPM fellowship programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.MethodsAll PM programs approved for at least four fellows as of December 2017 were identified. Websites of these programs were reviewed to determine the number and gender of current fellows and faculty, and programs were contacted to verify the information.ResultsA total of 56 PM programs were eligible; of these, 48 PM programs (86%) provided information about the gender distribution of fellows. Women comprised ∼25% of PM fellows. PM programs with a female rather than male fellowship program director (PD) had 2.40 times increased odds of a female trainee. Proportion of female faculty and division chief gender were not significantly associated with trainee gender composition. The adjusted odds of a faculty member being female was 1.99 times greater for PM programs with a female vs male PD and 3.13 times greater for programs with a female vs male division chief.ConclusionsWomen are underrepresented throughout all levels of academic pain medicine. The presence of women in leadership roles is associated with higher proportions of female trainees and faculty, highlighting the need for more female role models in academic pain medicine.


Author(s):  
Shadiya Mohamed Saleh Baqutayan ◽  
Fauziah Raji

Leadership is a topic that comes up in most discussions, yet the focus is mainly on male’s leadership as role models, and it has avoided the female leadership style. Thus this qualitative paper focuses on the female leadership effectiveness in Malaysia. The purpose is to gain more understanding about female leadership style as a socially constructed phenomenon at organizational level. Thus, it examines how female leaders interacted with their organization members. The study was conducted across a small number of women leaders in education industry who are policy makers among Malay Muslim origin of their experiences in leadership positions. The data were analyzed accordingly; the result concluded that the monitor, coach, face-to-face communication, bottom line management, and observation are the dominant leadership style in the education sector of Malaysia.


Author(s):  
Livhalani Bridget Sinyosi ◽  
Onoriode Collins Potokri

Gender predisposition towards female leaders within the South African context remains a problem and compelling issue, particularly in rural settings, which are often marginalised and overlooked. Guided by the transformational leadership theory, this article explored the experiences of South African female principals in managing secondary schools in the Vhembe District of Limpopo. A profoundly traditional and patriarchal society characterises this rural setting. Hence, a qualitative research approach and a case study design were used. Ten female principals from ten (10) randomly selected secondary schools in the Vhembe District were purposively selected to serve as participants. Through semi-structured interviews, data were gathered from the sampled participants. Findings from the article reveal that patriarchy still plays a role in disadvantaging women from effectively assuming their duties as leaders. Most of the participants–female principals are subjected to gender bias and thus, unproductive, impact the cooperation from learners, parents, teachers, the community, and the Department of Education officials. Despite unpleasant experiences, female leaders in this article demonstrate selflessness in their daily leadership tasks and routines. Furthermore, they are inspirational and serve as role models to all they had relationships with for the transformation and change they desire in their schools. To the sampled principals, being selfless and inspirational is their leadership strength. One way of the few mentioned becoming a leader one aspires to.


Leadership ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 174271502110471
Author(s):  
Parisa Gilani ◽  
Caroline Rook ◽  
Yasamin Razeghi ◽  
Melissa Carr

The representation and progression of women in leadership roles is a global issue, but research insights on the enactment of leadership by women stem from a predominantly Western perspective. As leadership is inherently context-dependent, we focus on a specific ‘place’ of leadership enactment and provide a more situated and contextual understanding of the challenges women in Iran face in entering and enacting leadership roles. This study contributes to the understanding of leadership and place by considering the dynamics of place as occurring at multiple levels – societal norms (including religion), organisational and physical (including geographical). For this in-depth inductive study 24 semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed through Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Through the intersection of different spheres of place particular challenges for women arise. The women within our study had to negotiate the complex dynamics of doing gender well and being seen to act in line with the normative conceptions of femininity with dominant masculine expectations of what leadership and how it should be done. While also women Western contexts are constrained and / or supported by cultural (national, societal and organisation) factors as well as place in a physical and geographical sense, the specific nuances in national and societal cultural norms and the ‘harsh’ physical environment in our study provide additional challenges for women to negotiate. This study affords female leaders in Iran a voice and extends previous work on the lived experiences of women in the Middle East and North Africa Region in the under-researched context of Iran.


Author(s):  
Gabriella M. Hancock ◽  
Kimberly Stowers ◽  
Ellen J. Bass ◽  
Nancy Cooke ◽  
Haydee M. Cuevas ◽  
...  

The objective of this panel is to discuss professionalism and leadership in human factors and ergonomics, namely as they pertain to women in the field. As part of this panel, we aim to provide opportunities and guidance for extending the representation of women in leadership roles throughout the field. The panel will be led by Gabriella Hancock and Kimberly Stowers who will introduce the panel and its role in the HF/E Women’s Organization for Mentoring and Networking’s larger campaign to foster professional development for future leaders. Panelists will offer their unique perspective(s) on leadership and professional development leveraging their diverse training(s), experiences, career paths, and perspectives on leadership. Members of the audience are encouraged to come prepared with questions for panelists to better learn the panelists’ thoughts, opinions, and strategies concerning what could and should be done to encourage female leadership in the future. Drs. Hancock and Stowers will foster discussion amongst the panelists, and invite questions and participation from the general audience.


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