The Power of Feminist Academic Leadership for Social Justice Policy and Practice

• In Event: Discourse on Social Justice-Focused Opportunities for Engagement

Abstract

Studies (Blackmore, 1999, 2002; Regan & Brooks, 1995; Rosser, 2003; Strachan, 1999, 2002) have shown that leaders with a feminist ethic might help transform America’s higher education institutions at a time when we face harsh realities. This researcher conducted a phenomenological study of feminist academic leadership and found that feminist leaders work daily to enact a social justice agenda and to transform their organizations into more holistic communities. Feminist leaders embrace a wide political agenda that is anti-sexist, anti-racist, and anti-violent (Strachan, 1999); they lead in a way that challenges hegemonic institutional practices (Blackmore, 1999, 2002) and emphasize “delivering quality education to students” (Strachan, 2002, p. 115). Feminist leadership is above all about fairness, justice, and equity.

Author

• Tracy Barton, University of Phoenix