Eastern Michigan University DigitalCommons@EMU Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations Graduate Capstone Projects 11-30-2012 Gendered governing: Leadership experiences of seven women former governors Deborah A. Havens Follow this and additional works at: http://commons.emich.edu/theses Part of the Personality and Social Contexts Commons, and the Women's History Commons Recommended Citation Havens, Deborah A., "Gendered governing: Leadership experiences of seven women former governors" (2012). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 438. http://commons.emich.edu/theses/438 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Graduate Capstone Projects at DigitalCommons@EMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@EMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Gendered Governing: Leadership Experiences of Seven Women Former Governors by Deborah A. Havens Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Leadership and Counseling Eastern Michigan University In fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION Educational Leadership Dissertation Committee Martha W. Tack, Ph.D., Chair David Anderson, Ed.D. Valerie Polakow, Ph.D. Mary Ann Watson, Ph.D. November 30, 2012 Ypsilanti, MI GENDERED GOVERNING: LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES OF SEVEN WOMEN FORMER GOVERNORS DEDICATION This work is dedicated to the future – a time where women are finally regarded as equals in life and particularly in leadership. ii GENDERED GOVERNING: LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES OF SEVEN WOMEN FORMER GOVERNORS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am most grateful to the strong and generous women who agreed to participate publicly in this study. Once again, they demonstrated their continuing commitment to make a positive difference in the world through their service and contributions to the future. The Honorable Governors Martha Layne Collins, Kentucky Madeleine Kunin, Vermont Judy Martz, Montana Barbara Roberts, Oregon Jane Swift, Massachusetts Olene Walker, Utah Christine Whitman, New Jersey My deepest appreciation to the members of my dissertation committee, Dr. David Anderson, Dr. Valerie Polakow, and Dr. Mary Ann Watson, who have supported me through the many years this research required to pursue, analyze, and finally, to present. I include Dr. Jackie Tracy, who, though not a member of my committee, was always on my side. Special thanks to my committee chair, Dr. Martha Tack, for her iron-willed determination to see this project through to completion despite considerable personal sacrifice. Just like a woman! I extend warm and affectionate thanks to my cohort members who graduated before me, but who forever lent a hand to pull me forward with this study: Dr. Pam Becker, Dr. Minta Downing, and Dr. Sheryl McGriff. iii GENDERED GOVERNING: LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES OF SEVEN WOMEN FORMER GOVERNORS To my parents, who have always assured me that I could do “anything I set my mind to,” the deepest love and gratitude for the example you set me; especially my mother, who inspired me as an outstanding teacher and principal for over 30 years – and who took almost as long to complete her Master’s Degree as I did this dissertation! Finally, I am profoundly moved and eternally grateful for the love and support of my husband, Dave Limbaugh, who has steadfastly stood by me through the years of this project. More than once, he helped me see the way to continue when I felt it likely there was none. In many ways, this study is a product of his effort as well as mine. iv GENDERED GOVERNING: LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES OF SEVEN WOMEN FORMER GOVERNORS ABSTRACT Fifty years ago, Second Wave feminists theorized that American culture was dominated by patriarchal systems that subordinated women to second class citizenship status (Brown, 1988; Dolan, Deckman & Swers, 2010). In the 21st century, women have become highly visible candidates for office on a national level. Since 1925, 31 women have served as governors; 20 were elected to office, three replaced their husbands, and eight became governor by Constitutional succession (CAWP, 2012). Many women of the Third Wave generation, or Post- feminists, reject the theory that male oppression continues to influence women’s life choices, some claiming that there is no need today for organized efforts on behalf of women’s equality (Jackson, 2010). However, little is actually known about the leadership experiences of female governors, in part because there are still relatively few to sample (Thomas, 2003). Qualitative research provides the appropriate methodology to determine the impact of gender on the leadership experiences of female governors by documenting their own narratives (Glesne, 1999) about their terms ranging from 1984 through 2005. In the mini-case studies of seven women who served as governor, the degree to which women experienced asymmetrical power as a result of patriarchal systems they encountered in office is examined through their oral histories. The study found that all of the women governors perceived that a double standard applied to their leadership: receiving less support from their colleagues in political parties, as well as more criticism and inequitable coverage from mass media news sources. All of the women reported an inability to discuss gender-related leadership issues for fear of handicapping their administrations. Thus, the study concludes that patriarchal systems continue to affect women governors, despite their winning the highest elected office in the US, short of the Presidency. v GENDERED GOVERNING: LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES OF SEVEN WOMEN FORMER GOVERNORS TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION .............................................................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................ iii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... v Chapter 1: Introduction and Background ....................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................... 5 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................................... 6 Organization of the Dissertation ......................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2: Literature Review ......................................................................................................... 9 Conceptual Framework .................................................................................................... 15 Feminist Theory ............................................................................................................... 17 The impact of gender on leadership – a brief historical survey. .......................... 18 Religious revivals ................................................................................................. 20 Set back by “science.” .......................................................................................... 21 Influencing public policies ................................................................................... 22 The seeds of bitterness. ........................................................................................ 23 The Progressive Era .............................................................................................. 25 Seeds of separatism .............................................................................................. 26 After suffrage ....................................................................................................... 27 vi GENDERED GOVERNING: LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES OF SEVEN WOMEN FORMER GOVERNORS Training “Rosie the Riveter.” ............................................................................... 29 Rosie retires early ................................................................................................. 33 The “Problem” gets a name .................................................................................. 35 The “Second Wave” of feminism. ........................................................................ 36 Grappling with “Difference.” ............................................................................... 37 “Nature vs. nurture ............................................................................................... 38 Studying difference. ............................................................................................. 39 The “Second Wave” under attack. ....................................................................... 41 The 21st Century woman ...................................................................................... 42 Female Leadership Style and Policy Interests .................................................................. 45 Political leadership. .............................................................................................. 46 Conservative national trends ................................................................................ 49 Gender equality in gendered systems ................................................................... 50