The majority of New Zealand's teaching workforce is female. In leadership positions,
women outnumber men in the deputy principal role, yet are significantly
underrepresented in principalship. How do women themselves explain this leadership
disparity? This small-scale qualitative research study explores the perceived barriers
in aspiring to principalship that are held by female deputy principals in the primary
sector. It utilises semi-structured interviews to gather data from seven female deputy
principals in primary schools in the Bay of Plenty. Data is analysed thematically in
order to extrapolate the significant barriers identified by the participants.
While international academic literature has acknowledged the disproportional gender
representation within principalship and identified potential factors, the New Zealand
research base is still limited. Further research into the barriers facing female
leadership may benefit future female aspiring principals in New Zealand by providing
an awareness of the potential challenges and offer possible strategies to contend with
the identified barriers.
The research findings indicate a common set of factors perceived to pose barriers to
women aspiring to principalship. These include: the impact of gender, the evolving
role of principalship, the demands of management versus leadership, the maintenance
of work/life balance, familial obligations, participant's self perceptions and the desire
for a best fit school as a first time principal.
This study suggests that further professional support structures and leadership
development opportunities be created to respond to the specific needs of aspiring
female principals. The provision of targeted programmes would go some way
towards addressing the barriers identified by participants and ensuring the promotion
and cultivation of aspiring female leaders that is necessary to sustain future
educational leadership in New Zealand primary schools.
