Tempered Radicals and Servant Leaders: Portraits of Spirited Leadership Amongst African Women Leaders
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TEMPERED RADICALS AND SERVANT LEADERS: PORTRAITS OF SPIRITED LEADERSHIP AMONGST AFRICAN WOMEN LEADERS Faith Wambura Ngunjiri A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION May 2006 Committee: Judy A. Alston, Advisor Laura B. Lengel Graduate Faculty Representative Mark A. Earley Khaula Murtadha © 2006 Faith Wambura Ngunjiri All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Judy A. Alston, Advisor There have been few studies on experiences of African women in leadership. In this study, I aimed at contributing to bridging that literature gap by adding the voices of African women leaders who live and work in or near Nairobi Kenya in East Africa. The purpose of this study was to explore, explain and seek to understand women’s leadership through the lived experiences of sixteen women leaders from Africa. The study was an exploration of how these women leaders navigated the intersecting oppressive forces emanating from gender, culture, religion, social norm stereotypes, race, marital status and age as they attempted to lead for social justice. The central biographical methodology utilized for this study was portraiture, with the express aim of celebrating and learning from the resiliency and strength of the women leaders in the face of adversities and challenges to their authority as leaders. Leadership is influence and a process of meaning making amongst people to engender commitment to common goals, expressed in a community of practice. I presented short herstories of eleven of the women leaders, and in depth portraits of the other five who best illustrated and expanded the a priori conceptual framework. The study contributes to the understanding of leadership by adding the voices of African women to the debates on leadership experiences and expressions. The conceptual framework consisted of three elements: Africana spirituality, tempered radicalism and servant leadership. The data demonstrated that the three elements combined to produce what I have referred to as spirited leadership. As servant leaders, the women empower their constituents, build or iv reconstruct community, heal both themselves and their constituents, and enact service because it brings them fulfillment. As tempered radicals, the women portrayed a range of strategies from quiet resistance, to utilizing personal threats as learning opportunities, acting as intercultural boundary spanners, leveraging small wins and collectivizing among others. Spirituality served as a source for direction and purpose in life and leadership, a source of leadership practices and strength in the midst of challenges. Put together, all these resulted in spirited leaders who are both tempered radicals and servant leaders. v To God be the Glory Great things He hath done “Though you have made me see troubles, Many and bitter, You will restore my life again. You will increase my honor And comfort me once again” Psalm 71:20-21 To Moses Mukira Ngunjiri, March 25, 1976 - February 28, 1997 R.I.P. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To my excellent committee: Drs. Judy Alston, Khaula Murtadha, Laura Lengel and Mark Earley; many thanks for guiding me through this process. I could never have asked for a better group of people to serve as my mentors and teachers through the journey, many thanks to you all. Dr. Cynthia Tyson, thank you for welcoming me to your home and offering incisive critique. Thank you for reading through the entire manuscript, and for being such a wonderful guide and mentor. Dr. Judy Alston, thank you for lunch, and dinner, and many conversations. Your support, encouragement and guidance have been unwavering throughout my three years of doctoral studies. I am blessed to know a spirited radical servant leader in you. To the sixteen plus one woman without whom this study wouldn’t be: Rev Joyce Kariuki, Dr. Agnes Abuom, Dr. Esther Mombo, Dr. Faith Nguru, Dr. Jeniffer Riria, Ms Wahu Kaara, Ms Priscilla Nangurai, Mrs. Eunice Ole Marima, Ms Njoki Wainaina, Ms Muthoni Wanyeki, Ms Muthoni Likimani, Hon Charity Ngilu, Hon Beth Mugo, Ms Anisia Achieng, Mrs. Shiprah Gichaga, Rev Judy Mbugua, and Ms Judy Thongori. Words can hardly express how much I appreciate your boldness, persistence, resiliency, commitment to justice, and deep spirituality – lessons that I have learnt not just academically but as life skills to emulate. To Dr. Pauken, Dr. Jorissen, Dr. Myers, Dr. May, Dr. Zimmerman, Dr. Ludwig, Dr. Edmister and Vicky, thank you for allowing me to make the fifth floor my home for three years. Patrice, we made it sister doc. We made it. To my mates in cohort seven, it has been a most rewarding experience getting to know each one of you. Paula Whetsel-Ribeau, Mike Cole, Frank LatenDr.esse, Jose Salinas, Marty vii Sears, Marjorie Krebs, Sidney Childs, Marie Fallon, I am glad to have made friends with you. Your support, encouragement and excellent camaraderie went a long way in making this journey worthwhile. Dr. Lillian Schumacher, Ron, Ally and Liz, you guys are a great family. I love you. Thank you Lil, you have been a most excellent peer mentor. To my family for all your years of support, even when my journey was not making much sense to you, thank you. To my mother Wangari and my brother Murigu, endless thanks for all your support and for picking up the tab many times over. To Dr. Anne Christo-Baker and (soon to be Dr.)Wairimu Mutai, thank you for being my peer reviewers and my dearest doctor/girlfriends. To Dr. Bruce and Mrs. Joan Edwards, I would never have come to Bowling Green if it weren’t for your invitation and hospitality. Thank you for always being there to support, guide and encourage me. Your friendship means the world to me. Thank you Joan for reading the manuscript - I knew if I had you, then I had succeeded in communicating to my most important constituents, the women leaders. To my many friends who have faithfully prayed and encouraged me: Christina Were, Tina Oloo, Tosh Mwaniki, David Wainaina, Carol Kariuki, Jackie Othoro, Mary Wamae, Liz Obat, Joy Mindo, Bob and Yoland Masidza, Linet Mathu, Richard Mutai, and many more – your prayers reached heaven, thank you for being consistent and committed to friendship in spite of the distance. Your emails and text messages kept me grounded and hopeful. To my NEGST community: Dr. Carew, Dr. Shaw, Dr. Royster, Dr. Mekonnen, Dr. Mutua, Dr. and Mrs. Wood, and the rest of the good folks at ‘Nairobi Country Club of Theology’ – thank you for your prayers, encouragement, challenge and support. viii Finally, to many others who have offered criticism, disdain, even shock at my choice of subject: Tears may last through the night, but joy cometh in the morning. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Page SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTIONS................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER I. CONTEXTUAL AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK............................. 1 Context of Women and Leadership ........................................................................... 1 Purpose Statement ..................................................................................................... 3 Significance of Study ................................................................................................ 4 Conceptual Framework.............................................................................................. 4 Africana Spirituality....................................................................................... 5 Tempered Radicals......................................................................................... 6 Servant Leadership......................................................................................... 8 Guiding Question....................................................................................................... 10 Delimitations ............................................................................................................ 10 Limitations ............................................................................................................ 11 Summary ............................................................................................................ 11 CHAPTER II. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................................................ 13 Leadership Theories................................................................................................... 13 Women in Leadership................................................................................................ 15 Implicit Theories............................................................................................ 15 Stereotypes and Role Expectations................................................................ 16 Gender Differences in Leadership ................................................................. 16 Women’s Ways of Leading ........................................................................... 17 Other Explanations......................................................................................... 18 x Black Women in Leadership...................................................................................... 19 Black Feminist Standpoint and Intersectionality ........................................... 20 Spirituality...................................................................................................... 21 Mentoring....................................................................................................... 22 African Women and