The Difficulties of Female Primary School Administrators in the Administration Process and Solution Suggestions

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of this research is to determine the administration experiences of female administrators, find out the troubles they have had during their administration process, and suggest some solutions according to these experiences. The qualitative method was used in this research and data was collected via the semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers. 30 school administrators composed the study group for this research. It is seen that female and male administrators' views are similar regarding the difficulties that female administrators face during the administration process. According to the participants, female administrators are sensitive with regard to having some ideal administration qualities such as being systematic, well-planned and ambitious. School administrators mentioned that they support female administrators as their communication skills are strong, they work attentively, and they cause the school to gain aesthetic perceptions. On the other hand they emphasized that the long lasting effect of sexist social values, patriarchal societal structures, and difficult working conditions are the reasons why most women do not prefer being an administrator. For increasing the number of female administrators in schools, school administrators suggested that gender based role perceptions that exclude women should be changed.Key WordsAdministration Process, Difficulties, Female School Administrators, Male School Administrators, Management, Primary School.In the era of the new millennium, the world has gone into a process of change and improvement. Adapting to the process of change is parallel to the quality and effectiveness of education. The education of women, who compose half of the population and have the fundamental role of raising future generations, is not only a significant prerequisite for adapting to these changes, but also the reason women get good careers. Education causes women to participate more in production and development. More effort should be spent to establish egalitarian attitudes in both educational and social life to educate women and men equally. Otherwise, if the education of women is not given considerable attention, if freedom and rights continue to differ according to sex, countries may have difficulties (Isiksolugu, 1997 as cited in Can, 2008).In Turkey, employment is one of the most important fields that the government tries to improve. However, women have less of an advantage than men in employment participation. In the Republic period, as soon as the education of women increased, their participation in the labor force also increased. Until the 1970's, although there had been an increase in both participation of women in the labor force and in the number of women that aimed for administrative and professional careers, researchers (Ayan, 2000; Bastug & Celik, 2011; Brenner & Tomkiewicz, 1982; Celikten, 2005; Dubno, 1985; Fierman, 1990; Koroglu, 2006; Mizrahi & Araci, 2010; Ozkaya, 1988; Peters, Terborg, & Taylor, 1974; Sefer, 1999; Terborg, Peters, Ilgen, & Smith, 1977; Tomkiewicz & Adeyimi-Bello, 1995) found that women started to work in the same conditions and with similar feelings as those of men but afterward their career and professional experiences differed for some reasons.From past to present, in all periods of life and all levels of society, although women and men have been working together, the contributions they have made have not been valued to the same extent, and women have always stayed in second place. Women working in jobs with low status are regarded as natural. However, it has been very difficult for them to start working in high-status jobs or have rising careers. Women who want to work in high administrative positions all too frequently confront the glass ceiling syndrome. As a result, it can be said that with administrative positions that require greater responsibilities, women are found in the limited numbers (Celikten, 2004; Ergun, 1996; Shum & Cheng, 1997). …