Abstract:
Women’s leadership in educational institutions has a significant contribution to the overall
socio-economic development. Because education determines women’s participations in others
sectors by its multidimensional nature. However, challenges with women leaders are inhibiting
them from exerting their fullest potential towards this end. Therefore, the main objective of the
study was exploring the challenges of women leaders in higher education institutions,
particularly at University of Gondar. Qualitative research approach was employed with a
phenomenological study design. In-depth interview, key informant interview and case studies
were used as methods of data collections, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
The study used purposive sampling technique based on the samples until they have reached
saturation level. Based on this twelve (12) women leaders and four key informants were
interviewed. The finding of this study showed that women leaders have faced a lot of challenges
due to personal, institutional and socio-cultural situations in the study area. The major personal
challenges that explored in this study lack of leadership behaviors, work-family roles conflict,
lack of help from family and heavy work overload. Unfit organizational culture, lack of mentors,
unsupportive institutional system and work overload were the main institutional challenges.
More socio expectations and cultural gender stereotype were the socio-cultural challenges of
women leaders. The study also indicated that working extra time at night and weekend, sharing
the responsibilities and resigned from the positions were the major coping mechanisms for
women leaders. The study has a significant role in filling research gaps, policy implication and
sources of information within the limited literature on the issue at hand.
