A Critical Literature Review On Common Challenges Encountered By Women Leaders In Academia: Insights From Higher Education Institutions In South Africa
- DOI
- 10.2991/978-2-38476-134-0_32How to use a DOI?
- Keywords
- Gender equity; leadership roles; mentorship; skills; Higher Education Institutions
- Abstract
The obvious underrepresentation of women in leadership posts in South African Higher Education Institutions sparked this study. The objective of the study was to uncover the embedded challenges that women encounter when occupying leadership roles in such institutions. A critical review of the literature was conducted to provide contextual insight. A web-based survey with strategic themes, coupled with interviews, brought about findings faced by women academics in their leadership roles.
A substantial number of respondents in this qualitative study were from previously disadvantaged groups of society and were actively engaged in leadership careers in Higher Education Institutions during the time of the survey. The study revealed a lack of mentorship opportunities, the undervaluing of skills and capabilities, and a lack of work-life balance as critical challenges encountered by women in leadership roles at Higher Education Institutions. It was recommended that the Higher Education sector should close the gender parity gap and prepare women consciously for such roles.
- Copyright
- © 2023 The Author(s)
- Open Access
- Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.
Cite this article
TY - CONF AU - Fundiswa Shwababa AU - Nosiphiwo Nkonki AU - Sindiswa Mdindela-Majova PY - 2023 DA - 2023/11/06 TI - A Critical Literature Review On Common Challenges Encountered By Women Leaders In Academia: Insights From Higher Education Institutions In South Africa BT - Proceedings of the 10th Focus Conference (TFC 2023) PB - Atlantis Press SP - 474 EP - 492 SN - 2352-5398 UR - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-134-0_32 DO - 10.2991/978-2-38476-134-0_32 ID - Shwababa2023 ER -