Date of Award
6-15-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Organizational Unit
Morgridge College of Education, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
First Advisor
Lolita Tabron
Second Advisor
Kristina Hesbol
Third Advisor
Linda L. Semu
Fourth Advisor
Ruth Chao
Keywords
Gender and feminism, Gender equity, Secondary education leadership, Ubuntu leadership, Women's leadership
Abstract
This dissertation aimed to underscore the multifaceted experiences of women leaders (headteachers) in rural secondary schools in Malawi. This study delved into the narratives of three women leaders, exploring the intricate connections between their leadership journeys, the principles of Ubuntu, feminist perspectives, and the dynamics of community capitals. This study employed a narrative inquiry approach, allowing and empowering participants to share their stories in their own words (Creswell & Poth, 2017; Egbert & Sanden, 2019; Hickson, 2016; Tenny et al., 2020). Through in-depth interviews, reflective narratives, and a focus group, this research captured the diverse narratives of the three women leaders, shedding light on the challenges, successes, and personal growth they encountered in their leadership roles.
Four main themes emerged from this study: headteacher by merit not chance, navigating (un)foreseen leadership circumstances, understanding community traditional culture and collaboration, and (mis)understanding feminism and gender in women’s leadership. This dissertation contributes to the existing literature on women's leadership by offering a nuanced understanding of leadership complexities in a rural secondary school setting in Malawi. It also informs educational policy and practice by highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities of educational leaders. Finally, this study contributes to global discourse on the experiences of Black women in leadership.
Copyright Date
6-2024
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Rachel Anna Kamnkhwani
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
219 pgs
File Size
3.1 MB
Recommended Citation
Kamnkhwani, Rachel Anna, "Navigating the Labyrinth: A Narrative Inquiry into the Experiences of Rural Secondary School Women Leaders in Malawi" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2415.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2415
Included in
African Studies Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration Commons, Gender Equity in Education Commons, Secondary Education Commons, Women's Studies Commons