Proceedings of the 10th Focus Conference (TFC 2023)

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A Critical Literature Review On Common Challenges Encountered By Women Leaders In Academia: Insights From Higher Education Institutions In South Africa

Authors
Fundiswa Shwababa1, *, Nosiphiwo Nkonki1, Sindiswa Mdindela-Majova1
1Walter Sisulu University, Eastern Cape, South Africa
*Corresponding author. Email: fntame@wsu.ac.za
Corresponding Author
Fundiswa Shwababa
Available Online 6 November 2023.
DOI
10.2991/978-2-38476-134-0_32How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Gender equity; leadership roles; mentorship; skills; Higher Education Institutions
Abstract

The obvious underrepresentation of women in leadership posts in South African Higher Education Institutions sparked this study. The objective of the study was to uncover the embedded challenges that women encounter when occupying leadership roles in such institutions. A critical review of the literature was conducted to provide contextual insight. A web-based survey with strategic themes, coupled with interviews, brought about findings faced by women academics in their leadership roles.

A substantial number of respondents in this qualitative study were from previously disadvantaged groups of society and were actively engaged in leadership careers in Higher Education Institutions during the time of the survey. The study revealed a lack of mentorship opportunities, the undervaluing of skills and capabilities, and a lack of work-life balance as critical challenges encountered by women in leadership roles at Higher Education Institutions. It was recommended that the Higher Education sector should close the gender parity gap and prepare women consciously for such roles.

Copyright
© 2023 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the 10th Focus Conference (TFC 2023)
Series
Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research
Publication Date
6 November 2023
ISBN
10.2991/978-2-38476-134-0_32
ISSN
2352-5398
DOI
10.2991/978-2-38476-134-0_32How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2023 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - CONF
AU  - Fundiswa Shwababa
AU  - Nosiphiwo Nkonki
AU  - Sindiswa Mdindela-Majova
PY  - 2023
DA  - 2023/11/06
TI  - A Critical Literature Review On Common Challenges Encountered By Women Leaders In Academia: Insights From Higher Education Institutions In South Africa
BT  - Proceedings of the 10th Focus Conference (TFC 2023)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 474
EP  - 492
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-134-0_32
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-134-0_32
ID  - Shwababa2023
ER  -