The “Mean Girl” Phenomenon in Educational Leadership: Women’s Experiences With Incivility

• In Event: BIPOC Women in Leadership: Pathways, Politics, and Power

Abstract

This study explores same-gendered incivility among women educational leaders, particularly those with multiple marginalized identities, to inform how schools and districts can address such incivility. The testimonios of five educational leaders were examined using a conceptual framework encompassing social identity, intersectionality, power, crab mentality and female archetypes from the film Mean Girls (2004, 2024). Findings revealed how the educational leaders’ experiences with or exposure to incivility aligned with the Mean Girl archetypes of the queen bee, new girl, worker bee, rebel and wannabe.

Authors

• Meghan Beth Buchanan, Texas State University

• Melissa A. Martinez, Texas State University

• Rosa M. Peña, Texas State University