Gender-related problems that female principals perceive they encounter on the job in schools in Venda.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate gender-related problems that female principals perceive they encounter on the job in schools in Venda. Life is characterized by a consistent struggle against domination of man by man, and in South Africa, Blacks have at last attained equality with Whites partly by waging armed War and also by Negotiating. This attainment of equality is indeed a cause for celebration, but we must realize that we can never be a completely free nation until women are liberated from domination by men . Women, in all walks of life, must also breathe the true air of freedom. ln our new-born democratic South Africa, the liberation of women cannot be delayed any longer.

This work is an attempt at addressing gender issues that bedevil our country. It looks into discrimination and domination of women school leaders. Literature on school leadership, though very limited, abounds with facts about gender hardships that women suffer before and after appointment in school leadership positions. This research specifically determined what gender-related problems female principals of public schools perceive they encounter on the job in schools in Venda, an area in the Northern Province, South Africa. There are 166 female principals of primary and secondary public schools in Venda out of a total of 676. 72 out of this 166 were targeted for participation in this research. The participants gave their opinions and feelings by completing a questionnaire and also by way of interviews.

Female principals in Venda confirmed literature claim s and unanimously indicated that they are indeed encountering an array of difficulties on the job on account of their gender. They have shown that they have common experiences of hardships which their male counterparts do not .

Key hardships found were the following :

a) Female principals are regarded as tokens . They are not taken seriously. Their leadership is undermined . b) Female principals remain basically isolated . It is difficult for them to get support in their job.

c) As school leaders they struggle with a heavy workload of their job and and of their families .

d) They struggle against a host of negative attitudes of staff and of community .

e) Teachers (males in particular) , students and parents resent the authority of a female principal.

This research suggests certain strategies that could be implemented in order to combat and minimize those problems. These strategies include the following : a) Conscientization of women principals by women in leadership positions in other spheres .

b) Legislation to outlaw structures of society that tend to discriminate against women leaders .

c) Providing women school leaders with relevant reading material.

d) Setting up forums of female principals.

e) Both male and females to get the right kind of sexual orientation and training at colleges of education.

Finally, key research suggestions made are the following:

a) Research to be conducted with female school mjddle-managers and teache rs.

b) Research to look into the extent to which gender -related issues impact negatively on the female school leaders in terms of leadership style , work rate and job-satisfaction.