Lens 3: Ethical and Moral Dimensions and Leadership Identity

• In Event: Whose Truth Is Heard? Women School Leaders Across Continents

Abstract

This group of scholars has focused on the ethical and moral dimensions of women’s leadership and the relationship to identity using qualitative and philosophical methods of inquiry.

Mastering the Art of Fixing Ethical Dilemmas: Women Leading Schools in India. This researcher examines gender issues in resolving ethical dilemmas. among school principals in India. Focusing on institutional ethics and the ethic of care, women principals practiced multiple ethical perspective distinctly and adhering to public moral obligation and public moral identity that is nurtured within the normative ethical judgment framework and particular moral values. While addressing ethical dilemma between institutional ethics and consequentialism, these women evolved their own ethical perspective in a relational framework by building trust with colleagues for making ethically appropriate decisions. Hence, fixing ethical dilemma for decision making is need-based and context specific ethical perspective for women principals in Indian context.

The Soul Work of a Womanist Ethical Critical Servant Leader. We live in a space and time where we need strong, effective, ethical and socially just leadership more than ever. We need leaders who are interested in service and serving first. If there’s ever been a time in history for a change…now is that time. Yet, this ethical and critical servant leadership stance is not to be taken lightly. As we consider the field of Educational Leadership and each of our roles in the field, there are some real truths that we need to not only accept but also preach powerfully while simultaneously doing the work. A marriage of ethical leadership and critical servant leadership is a great combination to create a truly transformative and sustainable space, organization, and life. Yet, we also need to ask ourselves the critical question: What exactly are we trying to sustain in our field, our research, our teaching, our practice, and our policies? I would assert that we need to name and sustain ethical and critical servant leadership. A critical servant leader is guided by a willingness and commitment to promote and sustain equity, fairness, and social justice. The critical servant leader’s way of being is based on his/her worldview and has the capacity for reciprocity. The critical servant leader is guided by and embodies ethical leadership via the lenses of care, justice, conviction, and responsibility.

Authors

• Judy A. Alston, Miami University (OH)
  Presenting Author

• N. Mythili, Mahindra University
  Presenting Author