Smart like a boy: The experiences of women working in an all-boys Jesuit school.

Format:

Book

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Ross, Kristin E, author.

Contributor:

Johanek, Michael C., degree supervisor.

University of Pennsylvania. Educational and Organizational Leadership.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Education, Administration.

Gender Studies.

Sociology, Organizational.

Education, Secondary.

Education, Leadership.

Women's Studies.

Educational and Organizational Leadership--Penn dissertations.

Penn dissertations--Educational and Organizational Leadership.

Local Subjects:

Education, Administration.

Gender Studies.

Sociology, Organizational.

Education, Secondary.

Education, Leadership.

Women's Studies.

Educational and Organizational Leadership--Penn dissertations.

Penn dissertations--Educational and Organizational Leadership.

Genre:

Academic theses.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (310 pages)

Contained In:

Dissertation Abstracts International 75-09A(E).

Place of Publication:

[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania] : University of Pennsylvania ; Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest, 2014.

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

text file

Summary:

As the number of women on the faculty, staff, and administration of Jesuit all-boys secondary schools continues to grow, it is imperative for school leaders to understand the experiences of the women in these schools. This exploratory study examines the experiences of women who work at a Jesuit secondary institution. It is clear from the review of literature that the existing research has not begun to sufficiently explore this phenomenon. Given this lack of prior study, the guiding question How do women experience their role working in an all-boys Jesuit school? is a meaningful area of new research.

This study is the outgrowth of a pilot study examining how female faculty conceptualize their role in an all-boys Jesuit school. Every woman who is employed in the school was invited to participate. Thirty-seven women were offered a survey developed from emerging themes in the pilot study. Based on the data gathered from the 33 women who completed the survey, a structured interview protocol was administered to 12 women in three experience groups (1--4, 5--12, 13--20 years). Focus groups by age and longevity, field observations, and member checks were employed in the data collection process.

The study found that the particular experience of being a woman is seen in four content areas that emerged from the data: physicality of being a woman in a predominantly male setting, gendered spaces in the school, navigating social norms, and grassroots gender modeling. The dynamics of the women serving as a bridge and balance are explored, as is a strong sense of self-awareness of carrying their gender as they navigate their roles. A pervasive theme of ownership as an enabling condition within the setting is explored, as is the effect of studying this phenomenon on the community.

In exploring the stories of a group of educators who have not been heard before, the findings provide foundational learning and an increased awareness of the phenomenon of women working in all-boys Jesuit schools.

Notes:

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 75-09(E), Section: A.

Adviser: Michael C. Johanek.

Department: Educational and Organizational Leadership.

Thesis Ed.D. University of Pennsylvania 2014.

Local Notes:

School code: 0175.

ISBN:

9781303945397

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.