Voices of Ohio Women Aspiring to Principalship

Women who aspire for principalship might encounter obstacles such as: lack of encouragement; myths about women’s work; sex stereotyping; lack of aspiration; role conflict; low self-esteem; family responsibilities; lack of mobility; and hiring and promoting practices. The research problem is to investigate the major obstacles of women seeking the principalship in public education in the U.S.; and also to explore changes of different obstacles to women’s principalship because of changing women’s role over time. Most studies include one or two obstacles; but this study investigates major obstacles or any other possible obstacles that may have not been recognized in past studies. The qualitative method for this study includes interviews with women (a sample of 9) to obtain a more in depth understanding of the barriers women faced. The subjects are women who are certified as principals in Franklin County, Ohio. Women in interviews are asked to reveal the most important obstacles while they are searching for leadership positions. Women’s experiences were collected and were analyzed to determine similarities and differences in these experiences. The two most influential factors that prevented the women in this study are: gender stereotypical views, followed by family responsibilities

Fewer women than men in educational leadership

The purpose of this study is to explore the possible obstacles in women’s pathway to a principalship; and examine if these obstacles have changed over the past two decades because of women’s changing roles

The Obstacles in Women\u27s Pathway to Principalship

The research problem is to investigate the obstacles of women seeking the principalship in public education; and also to explore major changes of different obstacles to women\u27s principalship because women\u27s roles have changed over time. Different obstacles in women\u27s pathway to principalship are: low self-image; lack of encouragement; myths about women\u27s work; sex stereotyping; lack of aspiration; role conflict; low self-esteem; family responsibilities; lack of mobility; and hiring and promoting practices. The research questions are: 1. what are the barriers for women who did not obtain a principalship or assistant principalship. 2. what are the barriers for women who obtained principalship or assistant principalship. 3. What are the other barriers for women who did or did not obtain principalship