Challenges of Women Leaders in South African Schools: Towards a Resolution

Abstract

This article explored the challenges of women leaders in South African schools, in the Gauteng Province. Existing studies on this issue only document the situation but do not specify or suggest frameworks on how the challenges can be dealt with. The article used secondary data sources obtained in both grey and academic literature, using terms such as women leaders, women leader challenges, women empowerment and women emancipation as key terms. It also utilised in-depth interviews conducted with a total of 52 education stakeholders consisting of six male and female principals, six male and female deputy principals, 12 male and female departmental heads, 18 Post Level one teachers, five male and female members of the School Governing Body (SGB) from staff and parent components, three Gauteng Department of Education officials, one representative of South African Principals Association in Gauteng and one labour union representative who were selected purposively. The theoretical framework adopted in the article integrated feminist and sociocultural theories. The article showed that women leaders faced a variety of social, cultural and structural challenges. It proposed the deployment of transformational leadership across all levels of the department as the best long-lasting solution.