2014 Articles

Women in Primary and Secondary Education Administration: Navigating Spheres of Subordination

Harrison, Adam D.

While women maintain an overwhelming majority of teaching positions at the primary and secondary levels, their presence in administrative roles is extremely underrepresented. Many scholars have identified barriers-to-entry for women to enter these positions of power. Though my research touches on these issues, the overall goal of this article is to better understand the lived subordination of women who have already attained administrative positions, and in what ways they combat it. I interviewed four women in Wynberg Community Schools who shed light on the discrimination that is both blatant and overt, however rampant. In exploring this qualitative research, an enhanced and more personal understanding of how marginalization has affected these women, can be showcased. My conclusions aim to set a better environment for women in the education workplace, by highlighting the way gender functions in school administration. By discussing these issues widely, changing the way language is used, positively encouraging women to apply to positions of power, supporting women in those positions of power, and given women spaces to thrive, it is certain that the education system will be much more diverse, nuanced, and conducive to equality.