WOMEN AND POLITICS: A STUDY OF WOMEN TRAINED IN A POLITICAL LEADERSHIP SETTING by Maria Battista Kerle B .S., Elementary Education, Clarion University, 1990 B.S., Speech Communication & Theatre, Clarion University, 1990 J.D., Law, Ohio Northern University, 1993 M.Ed., Westminster College, 1998 Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education University of Pittsburgh 2007 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF EDUCATION This dissertation was presented by Maria Battista Kerle It was defended on March 2, 2007 and approved by Charlene A. Trovato, Clinical Associate Professor, Administrative and Policy Studies Charles J. Gorman, Emeritus Associate Professor, Administrative and Policy Studies Richard Seckinger, Emeritus Professor, Administrative and Policy Studies Bernadette Comfort, Executive Director, Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series Dissertation Advisor: Charles J. Gorman, Emeritus Associate Professor, Administrative and Policy Studies ii Copyright © by Maria Battista Kerle 2007 iii WOMEN AND POLITICS: A STUDY OF WOMEN TRAINED IN A POLITICAL LEADERSHIP SETTING Maria Battista Kerle, J.D., Ed.D. University of Pittsburgh, 2007 This study described in the narrative how women trained in a political leadership setting can create an environment where women’s development is enhanced in terms of a woman’s voice, her networking abilities, as well as her expectations of herself and of the program. This is the first study of its kind to study women trained in a political leadership setting. The population of this research study consisted of the Executive Director for the state of Pennsylvania in the Excellence in Public Service Series, the researcher, and the women that were participants in the 2005-2006 class in Pennsylvania. Various methods were used to gather data. The Executive Director was interviewed. The researcher provided the background on the program and her personal experiences as a participant. Finally, the participants of the 2005-2006 class answered an open-ended questionnaire that focused on three main elements: the voice, expectation levels, and networking. An analysis of the research reveals leadership skills of a woman can be enhanced by participating in a leadership training program of “all-woman” where women are exposed through knowledge, experiences, and practice. The building of trusting relationships, the increased knowledge base, and the networking helped the women to have more confidence, the ability to engage in meaningful dialogue, and to envision higher levels of expectations of themselves necessary for professional development than what was previously considered prior to entering the program. Further, for many, the program exceeded their expectations or the program was a valuable learning experience that no woman would want to miss. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION.......................................................................................................................... XVI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. XVII 1.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................. 2 1.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................. 2 1.2 THE ROLE OF WOMEN AS LEADERS.......................................................... 5 1.2.1 Brief History:................................................................................................. 5 1.2.2 The numbers don’t lie – where are all the key women leaders?............... 7 1.2.3 Barriers proposed as to why women are not advancing to leadership positions: ..................................................................................................... 12 1.2.3.1 Lack of history about women.............................................................. 12 1.2.3.2 Traditional gender stereotypes: Male leadership standard............. 13 1.2.3.3 Capability and competence assumptions........................................... 16 1.2.3.4 Lack of mentors.................................................................................... 17 1.2.3.5 Lack of access to informal networks .................................................. 19 1.2.3.6 Work/family conflicts.......................................................................... 22 1.2.3.7 Work-place structures......................................................................... 23 1.2.3.8 Socialization process............................................................................ 24 1.2.3.9 Self-fulfilling prophecy syndrome ...................................................... 25 v 1.2.3.10 Glass Ceiling Phenomenon/Backlash ................................................. 26 1.2.3.11 Disparity in pay.................................................................................... 27 1.2.3.12 More choices today .............................................................................. 28 1.2.3.13 Political Arena: Additional Considerations....................................... 29 1.3 VOICE OF THE WOMAN................................................................................ 45 1.3.1 Brief background on how women communicate in context to relationships: .............................................................................................. 45 1.3.1.1 Self-evaluation...................................................................................... 46 1.3.1.2 Moral Judgment................................................................................... 46 1.3.1.3 Freedom of expression......................................................................... 46 1.3.1.4 Relationships with advisors................................................................. 46 1.3.1.5 Learning from others........................................................................... 47 1.3.1.6 Power..................................................................................................... 47 1.3.1.7 Attentiveness......................................................................................... 47 1.3.2 Women’s communication patterns: .......................................................... 47 1.3.3 How women have claimed the power of their minds:.............................. 49 1.3.3.1 silence .................................................................................................... 51 1.3.3.2 received knowledge: listening to the voices of others ....................... 53 1.3.3.3 subjective knowledge ........................................................................... 56 1.3.3.4 procedural knowledge ......................................................................... 62 1.3.3.5 constructive knowledge: integrating the voices................................. 69 1.3.4 The voice of the woman in the twenty-first century:............................... 73 1.4 HOW WOMEN LEADERS HAVE COME TO LEAD .................................. 76 vi 1.4.1 Emergent women leaders out of circumstance: ....................................... 76 1.4.2 Exception: A women who had the drive to be in politics and the opportunity:................................................................................................ 79 1.4.3 Issue driven reasons to enter politics: ....................................................... 79 1.5 HOW WOMEN LEAD....................................................................................... 80 1.6 QUALITIES NEEDED TO GOVERN AND PERSPECTIVES OF LEADERSHIP .................................................................................................... 81 1.6.1 Skills desired:.............................................................................................. 81 1.6.2 Strategic preparation and understanding the human side of leadership: ...................................................................................................................... 82 1.6.3 Women as change agents: .......................................................................... 83 1.6.4 The psychological approach: ..................................................................... 84 1.6.5 Symbolic leadership:................................................................................... 86 1.6.6 Women more detailed oriented: ................................................................ 86 1.6.7 The life of a leader—loneliness explained: ............................................... 87 1.6.8 Once you have the bug: Leadership addiction!........................................ 88 1.7 WOMEN INVOLVEMENT IN THE POLITICAL ARENA......................... 89 1.7.1 How women want viewed in the political area:........................................ 89 1.7.2 Legislature evaluation of women:.............................................................. 90 1.7.3 Long-term process of leadership evaluation: ........................................... 90 1.8 ISSUES WOMEN FOCUS ON IN LEADERSHIP ......................................... 91 1.9 WHY SHOULD THERE BE MORE WOMEN IN POLITICS..................... 92 vii 1.10 ADVICE FROM OTHER SUCCESSFUL WOMEN AND FROM THOSE THAT STUDIED WOMEN............................................................................... 95 1.10.1 Don’t be sensitive:....................................................................................... 95 1.10.2 Speak up early:...........................................................................................