Explaining the gender gap in school principalship

A tale of two sides

Bibliographic Data

ID21784231
AuthorsMiryam Martínez Martínez (0000-0001-9420-4554), Manuel M Molina-López (0000-0002-9207-5901, corresponding author), Ruth Mateos de Cabo (0000-0003-0946-7996)
Year2021
Volume49
Issue6
Pages863-882
Publication date2021-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEducational Management Administration & Leadership (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1741-1432 • E-ISSN: 1741-1440
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1741143220918258
OpenAlexW3019360671
LanguageEN
Citations received18
References cited44

This study sheds light on the underrepresentation of women as school principals by analysing which model (organisational or individual) is most identified with the gender differences in the quality of management found in favour of women principals. To do so, this study presents a model for the appointment of school heads in a two-sided market: demand and supply. On the demand side (organisational model), the presence of double standards, with respect to the promotion of women, would imply that higher bars are set for the evaluation of women. Alternatively, on the supply side (individual model), a potential lower self-efficacy perception among women could lead them to self-exclude from managerial positions. In both cases, the findings reveal only highly-skilled females as principals and a gender gap in principal positions. By using the World Management Survey (WMS), data indicate that female principals are associated with higher management quality, which confirms the presence of barriers to female promotion. Exploration of the market side responsible for these barriers found that only the demand side is significant, which signals the double-standard argument. This supports the argument that changes in the principal selection process should be implemented for the maximisation of the available pool of talent

Business · Demand side · Demographic economics · Economics · Microeconomics · Perception · Political science · Supply and demand · Supply side · Survey data collection · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Psychology · School Choice and Performance · Marketing

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