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Article
Performing and defying gender: An exploration of the lived experiences of women higher education administrators in sub-Saharan Africa
Title IX Research and Resources
  • Ane Turner Johnson, Rowan University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2014
Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the life and career paths of women higher education administrators in sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, the study sought to interpret the women’s experiences and identities, through the framework of intersectionality and gender performance, as ones that contributed to advancement within contexts traditionally barred to women. This research illustrates commonalities among the participants, elucidating the faith, family, and education as common constructs in their experiences and as mechanisms that propelled career trajectories. A major finding of the research is that the participants both preformed gender and defied it through the enactment of gender norms and personal agency, creating a threshold for their professional achievement in highly gendered cultures and institutions.

DOI
10.1177/1741143214523014
Citation Information
Johnson, A. T. (2014). Performing and defying gender: An exploration of the lived experiences of women higher education administrators in Africa. Educational Management Administration and Leadership, 42(6), 835-850.