A Case Study of Adolescent Female Leadership: Exploring the "Light" of Change

Abstract

The topic of this article is the possible changing trends involving adolescent female leadership. This qualitative case study focuses on ideas and practices related to leadership roles assumed by female youth and their male counterparts. The researchers investigate this topic in a secondary school in the United States, explain their methodological approaches, review the literature on gender and leadership, explore various solutions to gender inequity, and consider broader implications. Although the authors expected that male students would have higher leadership involvement, it was found that the sexes were similarly committed. In fact, recent female-dominated patterns of leadership in the realms of governance and sports became evident. Analysis of the feedback suggests that unprecedented change in favor of gender equality might be gradually occurring even while sex-based stereotyping continues. However, contradictions and ambiguities play a significant role in the analysis, suggesting that paradoxes of change continue despite progress. A metaphor of light and dark is used herein to capture this issue of gender equity and inequity, respectively.