Female Leaders and Distributed Leadership: What Can Women Bring to the Table?

Abstract

In this review of literature, we explore women in educational leadership and distributed leadership. Drawing our analysis from the lens of activity theory, we investigate how a distributed leadership practice may serve women in leadership. Findings from the review document a rise of women in leadership despite persisting barriers, highlighting female leaders as holding specific traits that inspire safe and collaborative environments drawing a strong connection with distributed leadership practice. Through the findings and in attempting to answer our questions with regards to women in leadership and distributed leadership, we propose further research on the characteristics and behaviours of leaders in certain cultures, and an in-depth exploration of distributed leadership as a practice situated through certain cultural contexts.